Bloomington, Indiana – A century-old limestone channel running through Bloomington could eventually look very different. City officials are exploring ways to reshape part of Clear Creek, replacing aging stormwater infrastructure with a more natural stream corridor designed to better handle rainfall and reduce flooding.
But before any major changes take shape, the city wants to hear from the people who live, work, and own property nearby. An upcoming public meeting will give residents their first opportunity to weigh in on a project that could reshape an important part of Bloomington’s drainage system.
The City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) will hold the first public meeting for the Clear Creek Corridor Renewal Project on Thursday, October 29, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Switchyard Park Pavilion, located at 1601 S. Rogers St.
The meeting marks an early step in a planning process focused on improving stormwater management, addressing longstanding flooding concerns, and exploring opportunities to make the surrounding corridor more attractive and connected.
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Community members will be able to meet the project team, learn about the proposed improvements, and share their concerns and ideas before feasibility and design work moves further ahead.
At the center of the initiative is a limestone channel that has served Bloomington for approximately 100 years. The city is considering whether portions of that engineered waterway can be transformed into a more natural-looking stream corridor.
Such changes would aim to improve drainage, allow stormwater to move through the area more effectively, and help filter runoff before it travels farther downstream.
The project covers downtown Bloomington and nearby sections of the Clear Creek channel south of West First Street. Beyond addressing deteriorating infrastructure, officials are examining how the improvements could support surrounding neighborhoods and businesses.
CBU selected Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LLC on August 14, 2026, to complete the project’s feasibility study and preliminary design.
The engineering work will help determine which improvements are practical and how they could be incorporated into the existing corridor.
The effort also follows earlier investments in Bloomington’s stormwater system.
Previous initiatives, including the Hidden River Pathway and Clear Creek Culvert Reconstruction, addressed aging infrastructure and recurring flooding issues across the Clear Creek watershed.
The new project seeks to build on those improvements while taking a broader look at what the corridor could become.
City officials believe a redesigned waterway could create opportunities beyond flood prevention. A more inviting and connected corridor could improve nearby properties, encourage private investment, and strengthen links between downtown Bloomington and surrounding neighborhoods.
However, those possibilities also make community participation particularly important.
“Public input on a project like this is essential. While the core mission of the CCCRP is to address our aging stormwater infrastructure and reduce localized flooding, we recognize that this holds a lot of opportunity for change in the surrounding corridor and for the people living and working nearby,” said Utilities Director Katherine Zaiger.
“We want to make sure that these decisions are made with community members.”
Residents, business operators, and property owners are encouraged to attend the October 29 meeting and help shape the project’s direction.
Anyone unable to participate in person can contact Beth Clarizia, senior project manager with Christopher B. Burke Engineering, at [email protected] to ask questions or provide feedback as the planning process gets underway.
