New gateway arch in Downtown Bloomington

Posted on February 26, 2021
The gateway arch was installed on Tuesday at the corner of Center and Mulberry. (Scott Miller/WJBC)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – A new gateway arch welcoming people to downtown Bloomington has received some mixed reviews. That is a surprise to Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason.

“I really thought you were joking with the overwhelming amount of negative comments that you said you were getting on social media,” Gleason told WJBC’s Scott Miller. “Because we’ve heard nothing but positives.”

Gleason, who was hired in 2018, says the gateway arch was part of a project that dates back to 2015. The city council at that time adopted the “2035 Comprehensive Plan,” which identified downtown Bloomington as a core attraction. One aspect of the plan recommended unified marketing and branding for the downtown district and the creation of signage and wayfinding installations.

“A lot of things are occurring downtown and you can’t cut your way to success,” Gleason said. “I think that was the vision of the elected officials. You have to make these investments to try and spur growth and economic development. I commend the council then that formed this, and it would’ve been the current council that approved it in January 2019.”

The gateway arch was the final piece of the entire project, which cost $550,000, according to Gleason.

More information about the Downtown Wayfinding Signage can be found here.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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