Kirkwood Avenue’s summer closure will start April 4, according to a city press release issued Friday. Weather permitting, set-up will begin Monday. It will remain closed to vehicle traffic through Nov. 10.
The practice began in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The city did not fully close Kirkwood last year due to construction projects. They allowed for “parklets,” which converted parking spaces into outdoor dining areas.
As part of the closure, the western half of the 100 block will close to vehicles; the 200 block will remain open; and the 300, 400 and 500 blocks will be fully closed.
Five businesses have applied to use the full street outside their property this summer: Nick’s English Hut, Lennie’s, Uptown Cafe, Farm Bloomington and Village Deli.
Four have applied to create parklets. Those businesses are The Orbit Room, BuffaLouie’s, Metal Works Brewing Company and Crazy Horse.
According to the release, city staff are working with businesses to organize seasonal events, like pop-up markets, in the Kirkwood space.
The Bloomington City Council approved an ordinance in January allowing the closure to continue into the foreseeable future. Part of the city’s Transportation Plan, adopted in 2019 as an amendment to its Comprehensive Plan, suggests redesigning Kirkwood as a shared street focused on pedestrians.
Multiple business owners supported the full Kirkwood closure at the council meeting. Uptown Cafe general manager Galen Cassady said his business saw a slight decrease last year without a full closure.
