Bloomington, Indiana – Questions over the future of the mural beside People’s Park have prompted a response from the City of Bloomington, which says the wall where the artwork appeared is privately owned and not controlled by the city, despite its strong public association with the park at 501 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Because of its location and visibility, many residents have long connected the mural to People’s Park itself. But city officials said the wall is part of private property, a distinction that matters now that the Black Lives Matter mural has been removed and replaced. In clarifying the situation, the city pointed to a longer history tied to the site, one that stretches back across decades of public art and community memory.
That wall has displayed several murals over the last 30 years. In 2017, the Bloomington Arts Commission commissioned a mural called “You Belong Here.” Three years later, after the killing of George Floyd and during a period of national and local demonstrations, the work changed in a way the city described as “an unsanctioned but intentional act of public expression.” The words “Black Lives Matter” were added, transforming the mural into something new and politically charged.
What followed was not an immediate decision to remove it. According to the city, staff members, the Bloomington Arts Commission, the original artist, and the property owners at the time discussed what should happen next. No final action was taken, and the Black Lives Matter mural remained in place for nearly six years.
The situation changed after the property was sold. With new ownership came a new decision. The city said the new owner chose to paint a different mural on the building and, as the property owner, had the legal authority to determine the wall’s appearance, including whether a mural would be preserved, replaced, or repainted.
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The city also emphasized that the meaning of People’s Park reaches far beyond a single wall. The park remains a significant place in Bloomington’s history as the site of the former Black Market, which was firebombed by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1968. That past, officials noted, continues to be recognized through the historical marker installed at the park in 2020 and through the city’s continued stewardship of the space.
The City remains committed to supporting public art, community expression, and spaces that reflect Bloomington’s values of belonging, dignity, and shared civic life.
Officials added that Bloomington will keep looking for opportunities to work with artists, property owners, residents, and community partners to support meaningful public art across the city.
