BLOOMINGTON— The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department is continuing its commitment to a greener and more sustainable downtown by planting new native trees along Kirkwood Avenue this fall. The project includes converting 14 landscape planters currently filled with native plants and flowers into tree plots, as well as replacing five existing trees that are missing or no longer healthy.
The Board of Park Commissioners approved an $8,500 contract with Davey Tree Expert Company to remove and replace five existing trees and plant an additional 15 trees around the downtown plaza and along Kirkwood Avenue at its Sept. 25 regular meeting.
More than 90 planters throughout downtown Bloomington are maintained by Parks and Recreation. In recent years, the department has placed an emphasis on planting native species such as coneflowers, bergamot and milkweed, which provide important pollinator habitat while requiring less water and care than traditional annual flowers. However, in some locations the high growth of native plants created visibility problems and raised concerns about appearance and maintenance. By repurposing some of these planters as tree beds, Parks and Recreation manages to balance beauty, function and sustainability in the heart of the city.
The project builds on the success of the Kirkwood Pedestrian Season, which transformed Kirkwood Avenue into a walkable space for outdoor dining, music and community events. Planters and green plants are an essential part of this atmosphere, they characterize pedestrian zones and create an inviting, lively streetscape.
Earlier this year, the department also partnered with Nature's Way, Inc. to replant and maintain planters in Courthouse Square as part of a $150,000 project funded by the Department of Public Works. This effort included replacing soil, mulch and plant material with a mix of native perennials, bulbs and annual flowers designed to thrive year-round.
Adding new trees downtown will bring even more long-term benefits. Trees provide cooling shade, improve air quality and help reduce the “heat island effect” caused by sidewalks and roofs. They also add to the beauty and character of Kirkwood Avenue and make downtown a more pleasant gathering place.
Parks and Recreation staff, who care for thousands of trees and green spaces throughout the city, remain committed to improving Bloomington's urban canopy. This project reflects the department's ongoing goal of creating healthy, attractive, and sustainable landscapes that serve both people and the environment.