By Mayor Tim Busse
Last month, City Manager Jamie Verbrugge and I presented the 2024 State of the City at the Zawadi Center, 1701 American Blvd. E. We had our focus on the future with the theme of Moving Bloomington Forward. If you couldn’t make it to the event, check out the recording on the City’s YouTube page at blm.mn/youtube. We covered many big upcoming priorities, including the three Bloomington Forward projects. Read on to learn about what stage each of the projects is in now.
Work beginning soon
Bloomington Ice Garden
The first project slated to break ground is the Bloomington Ice Garden renovation. Work is beginning in early 2024 to prepare for new refrigeration equipment. Major construction is tentatively scheduled to begin spring 2025. The facility will close mid-March of that year with the goal of reopening at the end of 2025, in time for the next hockey season.
Engagement opportunities coming soon
Community health and wellness center
The City will start community engagement on this project during summer 2024 to determine what programming and amenities a new center should include. Engagement activities and the design process will continue into 2025. The end goal is for the new center to open in 2027.
Nine Mile Creek corridor
Spanning 240 acres, the Nine Mile Creek corridor is a beautiful slice of nature, featuring trails and many outdoor amenities that residents enjoy. The next step for the Nine Mile Creek corridor will be community engagement. Parks and Recreation leadership will begin this process this year.
Stay tuned
Once dates for community engagement opportunities are set for these projects, we’ll share that information online at bloomingtonforward.org, City social media channels and cable television, and in the Briefing.
