Master-plan survey: residents give Bloomington Parks and Recreation a strong rating; trails and amenities top priorities

The Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners heard results from a community survey on parks and recreation that found strong overall approval for department services and clear priorities for future investment.

Jeff Andresen, president of Acuity Research and Insights, told the board the firm completed a statistically valid sample of 405 resident responses (data collected mid-November through December) with weighting to reduce transient Indiana University student influence and a maximum margin of error just under ±5%. "The average rating is a 7.9, which is very strong," Andresen said, summarizing the department’s overall esteem rating.

Key findings presented to the board included:

- Broad approval: Most demographic subgroups gave favorable ratings (no subgroup averaged below 6.6). Andresen reported that roughly 91% of sampled respondents said their household’s interests are sufficiently represented by department programs and services, with slightly higher disagreement among some older residents and households without children.

- Perceived value of funding: After informing respondents that about 2% of property taxes supported parks in 2024, the firm found about three-quarters rated that share at least a "good value," producing an average value score of 7.7.

- Usage and satisfaction: Ninety percent of households had visited a park or trail in the past year; nearly two-thirds had visited a recreational facility. Users’ satisfaction scores on attributes such as cleanliness, accessibility and safety averaged around 8 or higher, though service-from-staff scores had a larger neutral share.

- Priorities and demand: Trails for walking, hiking and biking were the top priority (75% interest). Respondents also indicated strong interest in park and trail amenities and open space. For pools, respondents preferred improving one pool and converting the other to a splash feature (just over half) while about a third supported creating a new aquatic center to replace both pools.

- Concerns: Open-ended responses cited safety and upkeep as the most common drivers of lower satisfaction at high-traffic locations, including perceived drug use and the presence of unhoused people in parks such as Switchyard and Beeline.

Andresen said that for the facilities and programs tested, Bloomington’s supply generally met demand — an outcome he described as "unusual" compared with other jurisdictions where gaps frequently appear. He also reviewed communication channels: the printed program guide and the city/department website were the most-cited primary information sources.

Tim Street, parks and recreation director, said the survey results will inform the department’s final master plan goals and priorities for the next five years. The board was scheduled to meet next on Monday, March 23 at 5 p.m.