Safety and Bikes

• Protect the safety of all pedestrians, especially older adults and children.

• Dogs and bikes don’t mix.

Climate Change

• The importance of mature trees in slowing climate change.

• The negative impact of pavement: it covers permeable surfaces, causes run-off into the creek and increases the urban heat island effect.

• The need for the city to honor its commitment to fighting climate change (see Bloomington’s 2022 Climate Change Emergency Declaration and Green Step City info).

The Environment

• Safeguard a unique natural resource by preventing further development.

• Protect endangered and threatened species that live there.

• Protect the habitat for all wildlife in the park and for migrating birds.

• Protect all the ecosystems in the park such as wetlands and remnant prairie.

• Advocate against mountain bikers who often create their own trails, increasing erosion and destroying vegetation.

Human Health

• Highlight the importance of the availability of a serene natural environment to human health.

• Enumerate the health benefits of walking and meditation in nature.

• Stress how loss of shade canopy increases temperature for trail users.

Aesthetics

• The park will look and feel different if trails are widened and straightened for bicycle access.

• Pedestrians will lose their current intimate access to nature because of the retaining walls that will need to be erected.

Other Thoughts

• Bike trails were not on the ballot measure; many people voted yes on Question 3 because they wanted restoration.

• Who will stop using the park if a shared bicycle trail is constructed? Older adults? Dog walkers? Bird watchers? You?

• Is there real value to a bike trail through the park?

• How much restoration will not be done if money is spent on new trails?

• What will the impact of more park users be on the park, the plants and the wildlife?  

• How will paved and/or mountain bike trails and trail users impact your experience of the park?