City Recognizes McDoel Gardens At Awards Ceremony

The City of Bloomington is holding it's annual Blooming Neighborhood Awards and Celebration even on Saturday, June 2 at the Showers Plaza Farmer's Market from 9am til noon. McDoel Gardens neighborhood will receive an award for efforts over the past year to make McDoel Gardens an even better place to live and work. Congratulations to all the residents of our neighborhood and our neighborhood association.

Pedestrian/Bike stoplight on hold....for now

        The HAWK light that was planned for the intersection of Walnut and Allen which was to be a part of the Allen Street Bicycle Boulevard, has been put on hold for now. Susie Johnson who is the director of Bloomington Public Works explained that the current bike/pedestrian refuge island that has been recently installed is only a first step.
       Depending on continued analysis and feedback additional features, like the HAWK system, may or may not be added to the intersection. According to Johnson, the incremental process was recommended by Alta Planning & Design.

       The decision was to gauge the success of the island and make changes as needed, as well as to ensure the dollars are invested effectively in the implementation of Bloomington's Greenway Implementation Plan. This strategy was supported by Public Works, Economic & Sustainable Development, and Planning. 

Switchyard Park Property Design Workshop at Convention Center

Switchyard Park Property Design Workshop May 14 2012 5:00 PM - May 14 2012 6:30 PM

Location: Bloomington Convention Center

Public input for the Switchyard Park Property master plan during an open mic session on Monday, May 14 from 5 - 6:30 p.m. at the Bloomington Convention Center.

 There will be a public presentation of the conceptual designs on Thursday, May 17 from 6 - 7 p.m. at City Hall - Showers Building. The design team will use information gathered about the Switchyard Park Property site, as well as feedback from stakeholders and community members, to create a vision for the new park design. Several design concepts will be presented for feedback on May 17.

 For more information about the Switchyard Park Property master planning process, visit the Switchyard Park Property Web Site http://www.reasite.com/live-sites/switchyard-park/project-information/ [photo courtesy of Herald Times Online]

Morton & Dodds project

Today the Herald Times reported: Development at 223 W. Dodds Street, along the B-Line Trail that includes single-family homes, condominiums, apartments and commercial space received a favorable recommendation Monday, May 7, from the Bloomington Plan Commission. The proposal calls for single-family homes to be built on 12 narrow lots, a five-unit condominium building and two mixed-use commercial buildings with a total of four second-floor apartments. The homes and the larger of the two commercial buildings will face the B-Line Trail and have sidewalk connections to it. McDoel Gardens resident and developer Matt Press said he hopes to attract a restaurant to the larger commercial building, which will resemble a circa 1900 clapboard-sided train depot. The smaller commercial structure will be built to look like a circa 1900 carriage house. The plans now to go the Bloomington City Council for its consideration. For more details on the project please follow this link to the May 7 Bloomington Plan Commission Agenda.

McDoel Switchyard Park Open House This Thursday, April 26.

The Bloomington Parks and Rec Department is looking for feedback and ideas from neighbors on the future McDoel Switchyard Park, as part of their master plan process. They will be hosting an open house this Thursday, in the City Council chambers at City Hall, in the Showers Building (401 N. Morton St.). Mid-day session: noon - 1:30 PM, Thursday, April 26th Evening session: 5:30 PM - 7 PM, Thursday, April 26th Future Opportunities to Contribute Ideas and Opinions:Wednesday, May 2nd, 10 AM - 2 PM, Senior Expo, Twin Lakes Rec Center May 12, May 19, June 2 or June 16, at the Bloomington Community Farmers' Market Monday, May 14th, 5 PM - 6:30 PM, at the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center The entire Switchyard Park planning process can be followed online, at www.switchyardpark.org.

Neighborhood Plant Exchange, Sunday, April 29th!

Too many day lilies? Tall grasses need dividing? Black- eyed Susans taking over? Bring your extra plants, seeds, seedlings, starts and other living things to the neighborhood plant exchange. One gardener's weed is another gardener's salad. Perennials, annuals, shrubs, berry brambles,all are welcome. Exchange plants and gardening stories and get to know your neighbors. New to gardening, and don't have anything to share? Stop by anyway. Everyone is welcome. See you there! Sunday April 29, 1-4 pm, 611 West Dodds (@fairview)

Memorial Service for Laura Shively

Laura Shively, a much loved and valued McDoel resident, passed away on March 10th. A memorial for Laura will be held on Saturday, March 24th, at 3 PM, in her private gardens at her home.

A memorial fund has been set up to help her children with estate expenses and to help with her younger son's education expenses. Donations can be made to: the Laura Shively Benevolent Fund or the Joseph Shively Education Fund, both at Key Bank, (418 S. College Mall Road, Bloomington, IN 47401).

We'll miss you, Laura.

(Photo of Laura by Michael Redman)