Parks & Recreation Hosts Public Meeting on New Powerline Trail Design

.9-mile trail to begin at Switchyard Park entrance, go west under power lines

Parks and Recreation is holding a public meeting Sept. 4 at the Pavilion at Switchyard Park, 1601 S. Rogers St. in Bloomington, to share information about the design of a new trail that will begin at Rogers Street across from the Switchyard Park entrance and run .9 miles west beneath the power lines.

The formal presentation begins at 6 p.m. and is followed by an open house-style Q & A with representatives from AZTEC Engineering Group and Parks & Recreation until 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to drop in any time during the scheduled meeting.

Parks & Recreation will collect feedback regarding the trail project and design, and suggestions for names for the trail, from Sept. 4—27.  

The new trail, which is currently referred to as the “powerline trail”, was proposed in 2018. The Bloomington Common Council in October 2018 approved the issuance of park district bonds to fund the project, which was paused until Duke Energy completed infrastructure work in the area. Monroe County Board of Commissioners on May 22, 2024 approved the City of Bloomington’s request for an easement to build and operate a trail in the preexisting utility easement on the county’s Thomson Property, allowing Parks & Recreation to proceed with trail design.

The trail will connect the Habitat for Humanity Osage Place neighborhood and RCA Community Park. Future plans call for the trail to connect to and through the Summit District development to the west.

Duke Energy is wrapping up electrical grid improvement work along Rogers Street. Bloomington Parks & Recreation hopes to begin trail construction as early as 2025.
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To learn more about the powerline trail design, or submit comments and feedback about the trail:

• Visit the Powerline Trail Design Project website.
• Sign up to receive email updates about the powerline trail.
• Send an email with specific questions about the powerline trail.
• Call Bloomington Parks & Recreation at 812-349-3700 to request project information or feedback forms in a different format.