Grand opening for Bloomington's Hopewell Commons: 'It's a front porch to something much bigger.'

A grand opening celebration for Hopewell Commons, Bloomington's newest park, was held under sunny skies on Wednesday afternoon (April 23).

The roughly 1-acre park sits just west of the B-Line Trail across from the Seminary Square Kroger. It's part of the city's project to redevelop the former IU Health hospital site at 2nd and Rogers streets, as well as other surrounding property. It's the city's redevelopment commission (RDC) that is funding the project.

As the temperature approached 80°F, some visitors took advantage of the cornhole boards that were set up on one of the swatches of artificial turf in the center of the park, sending beanbags skimming up the ramps, some of them landing with a sweet three-point thunk.

Others used the paddles and balls that the city's parks and recreation staff had laid out on the concrete ping pong tables, batting the plastic orbs back and forth—even if there were plenty of errant shots that had to be chased down. The temporary mats that form pickleball courts on the north edge of the park were fully subscribed.

Delivering remarks were several notables, including Eric Spoonmore, CEO of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. "I know this will be one of the great gems of the city, and will only further elevate the vibrancy of our community and make Bloomington an even better place to live, work and have fun," Spoonmore said.

Tim Street, city of Bloomington director of parks and recreation, described Hopewell Commons as "critical social infrastructure" for the new neighborhood that is to be developed.

Aside from the park, the land is vacant, waiting for the proposals to be evaluated, that have been made in response to the Bloomington RDC's public offerings for Hopewell East. Also currently under consideration are proposals that have been submitted by developers for Hopewell South, the land south of 1st Street. Still awaiting a public offering is Hopewell West, which is the part of the redevelopment area where the hospital itself once stood.

When he addressed the crowd of around 80 people, Thomas Gott with Milestone Contractors, which was the general contractor for the project, gave the hospital building a specific mention. Gott said that most of the men and women who worked on the project were born in the IU Health hospital that previously stood right behind him—including himself. "So that's what made this project so special to us. A lot of the people working on this project were local," Gott said.

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson made a point out of the fact that there aren't yet any buildings developed on the land: "In a redevelopment as ambitious and transformative as Hopewell, it's only fitting that our first opening is not a building, but a gathering place. Parks are where that belonging begins. They are our connective tissue. They link our neighborhoods, generations and ideas. They are where we start imagining the kind of city we want to build, and where that vision begins to take shape in real time."

In her remarks, Thomson spoke in sweeping, personal terms, reflecting on her own first encounter with Bloomington, on her bicycle:

It's a front porch to something much bigger. This is the first visible piece of the larger Hopewell redevelopment project, where we're transforming a former hospital site into a vibrant, mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhood that reflects our city's value—inclusion, livability, sustainability, and importantly, connection to place. What was once concrete is becoming community. And like any great neighborhood, it needs a heartbeat. That's what this park is. It's our first hello. It's open arms. It's an invitation to come in and stay a while. We're building homes here, of course, but also businesses, public art, walking paths, spaces like this one, places that invite us to gather, to breathe and to belong. Years ago, I biked into Bloomington on a cross country trip expecting just a place to rest. What I found instead was a community that was alive. This place surprised me in the middle of Indiana. This place was alive with creativity, with kindness and with possibility, and that moment changed my life. It's why I stayed, it's why I serve, and it's why I believe so deeply in projects like this. Our parks are where community becomes visible, where conversations start and where strangers become neighbors, where memories are made again and again and again.

The city's redevelopment of the former IU Health hospital site at 2nd and Rogers is tracked by the RDC with a project review and approval form. Starting in 2018, through the RDC's meeting this Monday, the form lists 88 separate resolutions that have been approved by the RDC in connection with the Hopewell project.

The overall estimated cost of the project stands at about $38 million, funded primarily through consolidated TIF (tax increment finance) revenue, along with $4.6 million from Federal Roadway Reconstruction funds and a $1.8-million READI grant.

Among the largest line items is the $6.5-million real estate deal with IU Health. The Phase 1 East Construction contract with Milestone is listed at $13,373,285. The 1st Street Reconstruction Construction phase accounts for $6,247,804, with design work for that phase handled by VS Engineering for $677,264. Design for Phase 1 East was done by Shrewsberry & Associates, LLC for $1,108,262. Other significant costs include the construction inspection for Phase 1 East at $1,174,740.

Photos: Hopewell Commons Grand Opening (April 23, 2025)