Major excavation finished at Miller-Showers park

The city of Bloomington's Parks and Recreation and Utilities departments announced last Tuesday F.A. Wilhelm Construction has finished major excavation activity and the construction of a storm water and treatment infrastructure at Miller-Showers Park. The final stage of work will be completed in the spring when the weather is more conducive to ground work. \n"We knew there was going to be some down time," Utilities Director Patrick Murphy said. "This is just a brief shut down for winter."\nAccording to the city of Bloomington's Web site, Miller-Showers Park, the nine acres of land bound by North College Avenue, North Walnut Avenue and 17th Street, was originally purchased by the city in 1929 for $1. April 2002 marked the beginning of the two-year, $5 million renovation project designed to manage storm water more effectively and to improve the use of the park for citizens, students and passing drivers.\n"If you drive into Bloomington from the north, you drive by the park," Parks and Recreation Administrator Mark Renneisen said. "I think it speaks well for Bloomington that we'll have such a gateway to our community." \nRenneisen said crews can "begin to finish" in mid-to-late March. Grass seed and aquatic and wetland vegetation will be planted. The first of three tree planting phases will also begin (planting phases are during the fall and spring). A total of 300 native Indiana trees will be planted, compared to the 66 trees placed before construction began. \n"The trees will not only help to clean the water, they'll also add color to the park," Renneisen said.\nWhen the asphalt plant re-opens in the spring, the final paving of a parking lot and a bike and pedestrian trail will also be completed. \nRenneisen said the most pressing issue of the project is managing storm water. \n"Over 170 acres drain to Miller-Showers Park, and with it comes oil, dirt, gasoline, tire pieces and trash," Renneisen said. \nWater will be trapped in five ponds, slowing the flow of water so no erosion occurs downstream. Water from Miller-Showers Park flows into Cascades Creek. Renneisen said aquatic plants and a series of underground sediment traps will leave the water 70 percent cleaner when it leaves the park than when it comes in. \nRenneisen said when the old creek running through the park used to flood, no one could use the area. Now that the water is being trapped, the city is able to build more permanent objects as part of the park. \nThe new park will also serve as an environmental education area, where anyone can read about the functions of the park and environmental protection. \nIn addition to educational signage, the park will contain a half-mile pedestrian and bike trail and a pier and waterfall overlooking the ponds, the plazas and the benches surrounding the park's two limestone sculptures, "Axis" and "Red, Blonde, Black and Olive." \nRenneisen said "Red, Blonde, Black and Olive" has been part of the park since the early 1980s and was moved from the center to the north end of the park to be more easily accessed by the public. The sculpture, which consists of two 20-foot-high pieces, depicts two faces looking at each other. The features of the faces are multi-cultural.\n"I think it was the artist's intent to represent the diversity of the Bloomington population," Renneisen said. \nRenneisen said "Axis" has been part of the park since the late 1980s and was not moved during construction. \nThe improvements to the park have already prompted local businesses to take advantage of the expected view. Colorado Steakhouse, located at 1635 N. College Ave., added a deck to their building last June which faces the park. Cathi Barzilauskas, marketing associate for Colorado Steakhouse, said besides giving their business more visibility, having a scenic view will add to the dining experience.\n"I don't know exactly how the park will affect Bloomington in the long run, but I hope it creates an entryway into Bloomington that makes a really great first impression," Barzilauskas said. "I also hope local residents use it like a park, but we just have to wait and see." \nThe park will be dedicated and opened to the public in late May.\n-- Contact staff writer Hannah Schroder at hschrode@indiana.edu.