Switchyard Park had an estimated 8,000 visitors on Monday, the day of the eclipse, according to an email from Julie Ramey, Bloomington Parks and Recreation Community Relations Manager.
She said the parks and recreation department will have access to figures on attendees for “larger” park properties, including Winslow Sports Complex and Olcott Park, on April 15.
These attendance numbers come after city officials estimated an influx of 200,000-300,000 visitors for the eclipse. Traffic reports from Bloomington Police Department seem to indicate these figures were overestimated. BPD Lieutenant Lucas Tate said officers attended to five minor crashes from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; this is less than what he said BPD typically checks out on a regular weekday. Additionally, he said the department expected total gridlock for two to three hours on I-69 and downtown, but this did not occur.
