Miller Showers Park passes test with flying colors

Shortly after construction began in April 2002 on Miller-Showers Park, a storm water treatment facility, the designers knew exactly what it was supposed to do, in theory. Two years and some months later, the park, which designers had envisioned to cleanse storm water, has done just that after many storms have dumped rain on Bloomington. The park opened to the public in July. \nThe park is serving as a regional storm water detention facility, draining more than 190 acres of surface water (mostly from downtown Bloomington), according to the City of Bloomington's Web site. In addition to collecting storm water, Miller-Showers will be a national leader in compliance to Rule 13 of the Clean Water Act, which will require communities to include storm water engineering technology for environmental compliance. \nThere is no need to make any winter preparations for the park because the treatment facilities below ground can function in any weather, said Mick Renneisen, administrator for the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department.\n"The ponds were designed to capture a 25-year rain fall event," Renneisen said. "So when we get the rains that happen every 25 years the ponds can sustain that. If a 100-year event comes, the ponds will overflow into the park and the water will still be retained. That's in the design and intended to happen."\nIn 1929 the strip of land where Miller-Showers Park is now was purchased for $1 from Jacob and Loretta Miller Homestead, according to the Bloomington Web site. \nAbout 100 more trees will be planted in early October, said Dave Williams, director of operations and development for the Bloomington Park and Recreation Department.\n"I think the rewarding part of this project has yet to come because once all the trees and grasses mature in the future it will look its best," Williams said. "It will not only improve the functional aspects of the park but the appearance of the park as well. We also like what we see in regards with public use of the park, now with the half mile walking trail around the outside people are in the park way more, unlike before the renovation."\n-- Contact senior writer Mike Malik at mjmalik@indiana.edu.