By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council heard about two west side parks projects, including plans for the city’s second inclusion playground where all kids, including those with disabilities, can play together.

At a committee-of-the-whole meeting, Jay Tetzloff, head of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts, said the fully accessible playground known as Harmony Park on the city’s east side has been a big success.

Harmony Park, which opened in August 2019 on South Hershey Road, was funded primarily through private donations, although the city government contributed $85,000 in public money.

“We’re looking to see if there’s someone out in the community that would champion this, much like we had a group before and raised the funds to build a west side inclusive playground,” Tetzloff told the city council.

White Oak Park on North Cottage Avenue is the leading potential site for the new inclusion playground, said Tetzloff.

The other west side improvement is construction of a new O’Neil Park swimming pool and skate park, but the cost is about $11.5 million, which is about $1 million above estimates.

The city plans to borrow money through the sale of municipal bonds to fund the project, which won’t have a significant impact on taxpayers, according to City Manager Tim Gleason.

“I am confident that this would be low or no cost impact to our residents,” said Gleason.

Elected leaders remain enthusiastic about the project even as city staffers look at possible cost savings before aldermen take final action in the coming weeks.

“Our city, our great city deserves this,” said Mayor Tari Renner.

“It’s been a long time in coming. This community, this neighborhood deserves this,” Renner said.

Potential cost reductions would come if the council decides not to install a one-meter diving board, with water deep enough to eventually build one three meters high.

The city might also lower costs by cutting back on plans for a bathhouse featuring individual suites.

Alderwoman Joni Painter wants the city to make sure all on the west side can afford pool passes for the new venue which are sure to rise when the new pool is finished. Painter suggested reduced rates or scholarships be available to help people pay for the pool’s use.

The new pool would replace the one that lasted 45 years at O’Neil Park.