BPNA Letter to Traffic Commission Regarding Multi-Way Stop on Henderson

525 E. Grimes Lane, Bloomington, IN 47401. 812-334-2075

February 14, 2008

The Bryan Park Neighborhood Association (BPNA) is requesting a multi-way stop and a pedestrian stripped crosswalk at the intersection of Allen Street and Henderson Street, located on the west edge of Bryan Park.

One of our neighborhood’s best assets is Bryan Park, yet at this time there is no safe means for residents to cross Henderson to access the park or to simply use the sidewalks located on the east side of Henderson. Currently east/west bound pedestrian crossings are scatted among the four streets dead ending into Bryan Park. If a safe multi-way stop and crossing walk is built pedestrians will gravitate to this area producing predictable patterns for all. Vehicular traffic is extremely heavy on Henderson. Crossing Henderson is particularly dangerous during the peak hours when children need to walk to school and many desire to make use of the park. Countless pedestrians use the paths through the park to go to IU, Templeton Elementary and Bloomington South. The beautiful riparian path along Bryan stream is popular with seniors and dog walkers.

For many years the BPNA, parents and neighbors have sought a safe means to cross Henderson from the west entering Bryan Park or simply to use the sidewalk. The BPNA neighbors are excited about the proposed sidewalk on the west side of Henderson Street and making Allen Street an east/west multimodal corridor. This is a start to remediate decades of neglected infrastructure concerns in our neighborhood. Little attention has been given to the needs the 750+ households in the Bryan Park area. With access to only four streets that have sidewalks and controlled storm water systems (Washington, Lincoln, parts of Grimes and parts of Henderson) we have a unique opportunity to locate improvements at the most optimal place for all.

We are pleased that the Bryan Park parking lot and Allen Street will soon be realigned as this will create safer traffic patterns for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. Allen Street is centrally located north and south along the west edge of the park. Other developments that make BPNA eager to establish a safe multi-way crossing at this time are: the current redevelopment of the children’s playground in Bryan Park at Allen Street, Safe Routes to School initiative, and the Greenways trail. We strongly feel this is the time to create a safe multi-way stop with pedestrian crosswalk on Henderson. A safe multi-way stop with a cross walk is an amenity that will carefully channel pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic. Additionally, it will also allow neighbors to safely reach our best asset, Bryan Park and use the sidewalk.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Jan Sorby
President,
Bryan Park Neighborhood Association

Second Piedmont Constituent Meeting

City Council Member Piedmont to Host Constituent Meeting

District 5 City Council member Isabel Piedmont will hold a constituent meeting on Saturday, March 29, 9:30-10:30 am at the McDoel Market and Deli. This is the second in a series of meetings which take place the last Saturday of each month with the purpose of providing an update on city issues and a forum for constituent concerns. The McDoel Grocery is located at the corner of Rogers St. and W. Patterson Dr. in city council District 5.

“This month I will review recent issues before the Council including changes to the Sustainability Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women, as well as a resolution opposing logging in the back-country area of state forests,” said Piedmont. “I will also discuss the city’s participation in EarthHour 2008.” EarthHour is a world-wide event during which people around the globe will turn off their lights for one hour at 8 pm local time on Saturday, March 29. The city is encouraging participation as part of its efforts to reduce global warming and bring attention to the problem of global climate change.

Piedmont encourages all Bloomington residents, not just those in District 5, to join her for this Saturday meeting. Free coffee will be available courtesy of Piedmont, and the McDoel Deli serves breakfast for those interested in combining a meal with the meeting. More information about Piedmont is available on her website, www.PiedmontForCouncil.org.

Agenda for March, 2008

Bryan Park Neighborhood Association

Meeting Agenda

March 25, 2008

Free Methodist Church

7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Call to Order, Introductions and sign up sheet

Old Business

1. Urban tree program (with SPEA) report: The Bryant Park Urban Forestry Team

2. Update on multi-way stop on Henderson: Jan Sorby

3. Set date for poop-bag dispenser party: general discussion and volunteers

4. Reuse of Church on Washington? Ideas and thoughts: General discussion

5. BPNA Elections in 2^nd quarter: Form slate, election April 22nd

6. Neighborhood-wide Yard Sale Update: Judy Sylvester

7. NEW Neighborhood Blog: Anne Hedin, Mary Miller and Sarah Reeder

a. Hand out instructions

b. Ways to let people know

8. Davis Street garden. General discussion

9. Ria’s plant exchange? General discussion

New Business

1. 4^th of July parade, does anyone what to do it?
   
   
2. Ways to improve our neighborhood????
   Strengths/weaknesses, goals, needs?

Adjournment

Want to Swap?

Is anyone interested in adding establish a Swap category on this blog, where neighbors can notify each other of things they want to give away? Peonies. puppies, furniture, whatever....

Proposed ground rules (based on those established by FreeCycle in the Bloomington and Bedford area, which is very well run):

• Exclude sales of any type (that's what the Garage Sale tag is for)
• Responses to Offers or Requests need to go privately. Don't include email addresses in the post.
  
• Those giving things away need to state when they have been taken.
  

What do you think? You can say yea or nay or suggest different rules of engagement by clicking on the Comment link below and leaving your comment.