Renovated park solves water woes

Since the spring of 2002, construction of Miller Showers Park has been going on between College and Walnut Ave. Bloomington residents who use the two high traffic streets daily might only see the construction as a inconvenience, but by December 5th city officials say the park replacing the construction will benefit the city and the environment. \nThe newly renovated park will boast cutting-edge stormwater treatment technology and, with the planting of over 300 trees, different wild grasses, and flowers, will also be visually appealing to the public. \nFunding was provided by the Parks and Recreation Department's $6.2 million bond, approved by the city in 2001 for Miller Showers and other park projects. \nAccording to the City of Bloomington Web site, Miller Showers Park will include a entryway to the Bloomington downtown area, a hard-surfaced bicycle and pedestrian trail that will encircle the entire park and an observation pier with a waterfall to overlook the pond. Plazas with benches will surround the park's Red, Blonde, Black and Olive statue and the limestone Axis statue. Williams said trees native to Bloomington will also be planted. A bridge will be built across the stream, roughly at 19th Street. \nDave Williams, director of operations for the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, said the park will also have cutting edge technology in storm water management. \n"There are three very large water pretreatment centers within the park," Williams said. "The water comes in and creates a venturi, which will grab cigarette butts, litter, and sand falls to the bottom of that treatment structure were it can be pumped out and removed, instead of staying in the storm water flow and continuing down stream."\nAccording to the city's Web site, the water treatment will be in compliance with Rule 13 of the Clean Water Act that is yet to be enforced. Rule 13 forces a community to clean their storm water supply in an effort to help the environment. Williams said there will be emergent wetland plants, native grasses, and wild flowers. In particular, the wetland plants have the inherent natural capabilities of clinging to storm water sediment. \nBloomington mayor John Fernandez said the park is important to the community. \n"We are taking an aggressive step controlling the storm water that can cover a 20 block radius," he said. \nSome Bloomington residents have expressed concerns with the length of time the construction has taken, but Mick Renneisen, administrator of the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, said the project is not behind schedule. \nWilliams and Reenneisen have both received positive and negative feedback about the park. Williams said for every bit of negative news there is equal if not greater support from the community.\n"There are a lot of diverse opinions," Reenneisen said. "The consensus is that these types of projects make Bloomington a special place and unique from others."\nMayor Fernandez has confidence that the park will be a big feature in Bloomington. \n"In some time I think that Miller Showers Park will turn into a post card," he said. \n-- Contact staff writer Mike Malik at mjmalik@indiana.edu