Kirkwood Avenue will be completely open to vehicle traffic and parking starting Wednesday, the city announced in a press release. The street’s 100, 400 and 500 blocks are currently only open to pedestrian traffic, with yellow cement cylinders blocking the road.
The blocks were originally shut down April 4 for summer pedestrians. The street’s 300 block — which includes the Monroe County Public Library’s downtown location — reopened Oct. 3.
The 300 block reopened the day after Hoosier Hoops on Kirkwood, an event Oct. 2 promoting Indiana basketball’s upcoming seasons. It used the 300, 400 and 500 Kirkwood Avenue blocks for interactive events.
The city first closed the streets during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to support outdoor dining practices in line with social distancing.
Kirkwood Avenue closed every summer since, except summer 2024, when Indiana Avenue construction required Kirkwood to be open for redirected traffic.
The Bloomington City Council unanimously approved an ordinance supporting the March to November closure to happen annually during a January meeting.
During the closure, businesses like Lennie’s and Uptown Café used the open space for outdoor seating. The open blocks were used for community events, including Bloomington Pridefest.
The city also announced in the press release that metered parking will be free Nov. 28-30 and Dec. 18-24 for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, respectively.
The city has not yet announced the date Kirkwood Avenue will close for the 2026 season.
