The following is a press release written by Desiree DeMolina for the City Bloomington.
As part of ongoing work to expand digital access for residents, free public Wi-Fi is now available at two additional locations: Seminary Park (100 W. 2nd St.) and Hopewell Commons (630 S. Morton St.), Bloomington’s newest park. Both sites offer service at speeds up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps), depending on where you’re located in the park.
The expansion advances the City’s Digital Opportunity Strategic Plan, which aims to ensure all residents have reliable internet access, devices, and the digital tools needed for full participation in civic and economic life.
These are the first new public Wi-Fi additions since 2023 and join a growing network of free, community-oriented spaces and access points throughout the city. Residents can also connect at these Parks:
- Peoples Park (501 E. Kirkwood Ave.)
- John Waldron Arts Center (122 S Walnut St.)
- Hill & Buskirk Park (331 S. Washington St.)
- Rev. Ernest D. Butler Park (812 W. 9th St.)
- Crestmont Park (1100 N. Illinois St.)
- Bryan Park Pool (1020 S. Woodlawn Ave.)
About Digital Opportunity
Digital Opportunity—defined by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance as ensuring all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation—is a central priority for the City of Bloomington.
The City of Bloomington and mStreet Fiber continue to collaborate on a groundbreaking digital opportunity program, one of the most innovative broadband public-private collaborations in the country, to help low-income and digitally disadvantaged households access top-quality internet services.
Bloomington has been recognized by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance 2021-2024 as a Digital Inclusion Trailblazer. Learn more about the City of Bloomington’s Digital Opportunity program at bloomington.in.gov/digital-opportunity.
City-Wide High-Speed Fiber Internet Project
In addition to bringing Wi-Fi to City parks, the City of Bloomington, mStreet Fiber and GigabitNow continue to collaborate on one of the country’s most comprehensive, inclusive, and innovative public-private partnerships to help low-income and digitally disadvantaged households access top-quality internet service.
Eligible low-income residents may qualify to receive at least a symmetrical 250 megabits per second (Mpbs) plan for less than $10/month. The City and mStreet Fiber will together provide the “drop” connection to qualifying households. Visit gigabitnow.com/bloomington/fiber-for-all/ for more information.
The City of Bloomington partnered with Meridiam/mStreet Fiber in 2021 to bring high-speed internet access to all of Bloomington. Learn more about the project at bloomington.in.gov/news/2023/04/04/5572.
About Parks and Recreation
Bloomington Parks and Recreation is responsible for managing 41 park sites that include more than 2,300 acres of green space, as well as more than 300 programs and events planned annually for the benefit of the Bloomington community. For more information about city parks, or where to find a park, playground, ball court, or trail near you, visit bloomington.in.gov/parks or download the official Parks mobile app OuterSpatial, available for free in the App Store or Google Play.
