Bloomington’s Lower Cascades Park and Old State Road 37 may be considered for a local historic designation.
The city’s Historic Preservation Commission, which recommends sites for historic preservation, could consider a nomination in November.
A group of residents hoping to preserve driver access to Old S.R. 37, which goes through Lower Cascades, is advocating for the designation.
“I care about the park; I come here with my grandson, and I have been since he was little,” said Chris Sturbaum, a non-voting commission member leading the effort. “I have a friend who said, ‘I don’t know a world in which this park is not a historic object to save.’”
Read more: Clash over future of Lower Cascades road continues at city council meeting
A historic designation would require input from the commission for some changes to the property, according to the city's Legal Department. The Bloomington City Council also would have to approve the designation.
The effort is a response to Mayor John Hamilton’s plan to close a 0.6-mile stretch of Old S.R. 37 to drivers and convert the road to a trail for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Some residents say doing so would limit access to the park, especially for those who are elderly or mobility restricted.
“Older guys like me, I’m done riding my bike,” Sturbaum said. “Sharing the road … protects the beauty of the park (and) keeps the historic road intact; and everybody shares the park. We just don’t see a downside to that.”
Read more: Residents rally against plan to restrict driver access to Lower Cascades road
Hamilton said converting part of the road to a multi-purpose trail aligns with the city’s transportation plan, which seeks to connect Bloomington’s major parks.
He also has said he wants the City Council to vote on his proposal before the end of the year. However, it’s unclear whether that will happen.
The council only has five more scheduled meetings in 2023. One is this Wednesday.
The council’s attorney said nothing on Lower Cascades is scheduled for a vote before the end of 2023.
Read more: Residents oppose Hamilton’s plan for Lower Cascades road closure
A representative for Hamilton’s office declined an interview request from WFIU/WTIU News.
The historic commission meets next on Nov. 9, to discuss Lower Cascades and Old S.R. 37.
From there, members would vote on a historic designation in December.
The December meeting would be used as a public hearing, requiring letters to be sent to property owners and neighbors.
Lower Cascades Park is about 100 years old and is Bloomington’s oldest park. Old S.R. 37 was once the main road into Bloomington.
Correction: This story has been edited to clarify the Historic Preservation Commission will not vote on a historic designation until a December meeting.
