BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — The city of Bloomington broke ground Monday afternoon on the Sunnyside Park Sustainability Initiative, aimed to be an environmental educational hub.
“Today marks the beginning of meaningful improvements. This project blends environmental innovation with neighborhood amenities,” said Eric Veal, director of parks and recreation.
The project will transform 12 acres of green space in west Bloomington into an educational stop to learn more about the water cycle, stormwater management and nature-based solutions.
City Council member Mollie Ward, whose ward the park resides in, says that this is not just for infrastructure, but also for the environment.
“I think sometimes we think about community investment more in terms of bricks and asphalt and hard things as opposed to green things,” Ward said. “This initiative represents an investment in not only the environment, not only in a sustainable green space, but also an investment in an entire neighborhood, an entire community.”
The $7.5 million bid was awarded to Baxter and Woodman, a private contractor. They will be tasked with building an outdoor gym and classroom, an amphitheater, trails, and education signage, play areas as well as a naturalized dry-bottom stormwater detention area, for stormwater drainage.
“For generations to come, they’re going to enjoy not only a park, they’re going to enjoy what actual water and the direction of water and what it means to sustainability,” said Dan Brady, mayor of Bloomington. “They’re going to enjoy the horticultural side of things and what it means to sustainability in this community, but more so than anything else.”
“They’re going to enjoy a wonderful, wonderful place to gather as a community and see what this park has so much to offer in the way of the future and what it means from sustainability.”
The project is being funded by a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and a $6.9 million contribution from the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District, which the space is located next to their west Bloomington location.
WMBD TV first reported this story. You can read the original story online at CIProud.com.
