Fri 21 Dec 2007
Enjoying the Great Outdoors: Balancing Bloomington city life with its natural escapes
Had enough of studying and the Bloomington bar scene? Fret not, fellow city dweller: Bloomington and the surrounding areas have a variety of natural escapes. The following outdoor activities can enhance the experience of living in a culturally active city, and more important, they offer a retreat from Bloomington’s occasionally tepid urban atmosphere.Whether you appreciate the peaceful solitude, the challenging adventure, or a new way of viewing nature, there is an abundance of parks and nature preserves throughout the area to cure your urban blues.
From a passive stroll through a shady, quiet city park to engaging nature from new and exhilarating heights, or mysterious depths, the natural diversity of Bloomington’s landscape showcases both ends of nature’s spectrum.
Where to begin….jpg)
Newcomers to the area have probably heard about the majestic beauty of Brown Country State Park or the ‘fun in the sun’ that is waiting to be had on the waters of the Lake Monroe State Reservoir. However, the lesser known gems of the natural world should not be overlooked.
Joshua Levering
Click here for an interactive Bloomington City Parks map
Angie Smith, the natural resources coordinator for Bloomington Parks and Recreation, said, “We try to promote our lesser known parks because people tend to flock to the ones they know and love.”
Just remember, the larger parks mentioned above can be overcrowded during peak seasons and induce the feeling of being stuck in the Wal-Mart checkout line. This effect can easily be reversed by hiking through a serene forest devoid of tourists.
If you do not have the time to spend a whole day at a larger state park, Smith said “there are more than 20 miles of hiking trails in our parks around the community and an old growth forest [Latimer Woods] right behind the mall.”
Some residents forget about these nearby nature areas. “Sometimes just taking a walk down the street can get you back to nature,” Smith said.
The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department does a tremendous job of keeping its parks clean and preserved for its citizens. In fact, the department’s website proudly states that earlier this year its efforts were “honored with the highest recognition an agency can receive when it was presented with the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management by the National Recreation and Park Association.”
Bloomington’s Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for maintaining and overseeing operations for nearly 30 city parks and nature preserves. Most of these are city parks that contain playgrounds, basketball courts, shelter houses, and hiking trails. However, there are a few areas outside the developed city that are merely overseen by the department and require little interaction, offering a true escape from the noisy city.
Just remember, the larger parks mentioned above can be overcrowded during peak seasons and induce the feeling of being stuck in the Wal-Mart checkout line. This effect can easily be reversed by hiking through a serene forest devoid of tourists.
If you do not have the time to spend a whole day at a larger state park, Smith said “there are more than 20 miles of hiking trails in our parks around the community and an old growth forest [Latimer Woods] right behind the mall.”
Some residents forget about these nearby nature areas. “Sometimes just taking a walk down the street can get you back to nature,” Smith said.
The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department does a tremendous job of keeping its parks clean and preserved for its citizens. In fact, the department’s website proudly states that earlier this year its efforts were “honored with the highest recognition an agency can receive when it was presented with the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management by the National Recreation and Park Association.”
Bloomington’s Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for maintaining and overseeing operations for nearly 30 city parks and nature preserves. Most of these are city parks that contain playgrounds, basketball courts, shelter houses, and hiking trails. However, there are a few areas outside the developed city that are merely overseen by the department and require little interaction, offering a true escape from the noisy city.
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| Joshua Levering |
| Waterfall at Leonard Springs Nature Park. |
If you do not want to leave the city, there is a 10-acre plot of old-growth forest named Latimer Woods with a short hiking trail nestled behind the College Mall. This area is being preserved for hiking and educational purposes, and based on the age of the large trees, it is like taking a step back in time.
Lake Lemon and Riddle Point Park, off Highway 45 in the northeast portion of Monroe County, offer a public beach, picnic areas, fishing, nature trails, and many educational nature demonstrations. There is also a great bird watching preserve, Little Africa, located within the park.
“It is important for the public to gain an appreciation for our natural resources,” said Scott McWhorter, lake biologist for the Lake Lemon Conservancy District. He also cautioned about the overcrowded effects of the larger parks in the area “Wildlife flee at the presence of too many people … some larger parks have been made to be convenient for people but discouraging for wildlife.”
In order to obtain a rewarding view of wildlife, McWhorter said, “come to Lake Lemon early in the morning when there is less disturbance. … Bald eagles, Canada geese, beavers, and white tailed deer can be easily spotted.”
With a little help from my friends …
If you desire to get away and soak up the natural beauty of the area but lack the motivation, there are several groups that are willing to get you motivated and excited about outdoor recreation.
For starters, Indiana University Outdoor Adventures, based in the Indiana Memorial Union, gets students and faculty involved in a wide variety of excursions. Supervised trips range from daily to weeklong adventures and incorporate activities such as hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, and backpacking trips.
David Calvin is the program coordinator for IU Outdoor Adventures (IUOA) and also teaches at the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and the Department of Recreation and Park Administration at Indiana University. Calvin said, “Students are usually hesitant to try something new in the outdoors … but afterwards almost everyone is happy with their experiences.”
IUOA focuses on getting students out of the classroom to learn about their environments and their own abilities with firsthand experiences in the wild.
“I enjoyed being pushed past my comfort zone. … I never would have imagined that I could survive three days without showering,” said IU junior Michelle Crouch.
| HIKING ESSENTIALS - Comfortable Boots/Shoes - Light clothing, wear layers - Water, juice, sports drinks - Mixed nuts, granola bars, dry cereal - Hard candy (I prefer Jolly Ranchers) - Sunglasses, Hat - Most Important - Allow yourself to enjoy the hike!!! |
“The weekend hikes are very relaxed and aimed at getting individuals in the Bloomington community excited about their environment. … It is a great way to start your weekend and clear your mind from the busy schedules of the work week,” Hamson said.
Who doesn’t need this after a long week of studying, typing papers, or being cooped up in an office cubicle?
For those interested in a more intense approach for fleeing the city and discovering the wonders of nature, there are some very exciting options in the Bloomington area.
The Wapehani Mountain Bike Park is south of Second Street on Weimer Road. The secluded 43-acre patch of woods has roughly five miles of dirt trails for your mountain biking pleasure. Wapehani was established in 1990 and is also the first mountain bike park in the state.
Need a new perspective on nature?
If you are comfortable with extreme heights, Vencel Balloons, Inc. is an advertising company that also uses its hot-air balloons for flight tours over the dense forests of Monroe and Brown counties. Flight tourists are given a view of the natural world that few will ever experience. The balloon tours run from March through December on the weekends and cost about $200 per person.
A representative from Vencel said, “The price might make it costly for the average student, but don’t forget us on your birthday or at Christmas time. … The sights during the autumn season are unbelievable.”
If braving the heights above Bloomington is not your idea of a fun or relaxing time, then consider going underground with Bluespring Caverns Boat Tours. Located in nearby Bedford, the tour takes you on an expedition of America’s longest underground river as you glide through subterranean caverns and witness rare species of blind fish native only to these caverns.
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| Photo courtesy of Boilerblues.com |
| Hoosier National Forest in autumn. |
If braving the heights above Bloomington is not your idea of a fun or relaxing time, then consider going underground with Bluespring Caverns Boat Tours. Located in nearby Bedford, the tour takes you on an expedition of America’s longest underground river as you glide through subterranean caverns and witness rare species of blind fish native only to these caverns.
With a wide variety of natural adventures to explore, the Bloomington area is unique. Whether you enjoy a leisurely stroll in a well-kept city park, a jostling mountain bike ride through the rolling, wooded hills, or an airborne tour of Monroe County’s vibrant forests, there is always something to take you away from the hectic city.
Smith emphasized the importance of “having places to get back to reality and harmonize with nature” as a vital piece of living a healthy life. “As more people realize the resources right around the corner, they’ll be able to get back to nature and away from their computer and television screens,” said Smith.
So remember, when the concrete jungle and obnoxious pedestrians of the city begin to annoy you, look for a natural retreat and enjoy Bloomington’s beautiful and plentiful outdoor getaways.
Smith emphasized the importance of “having places to get back to reality and harmonize with nature” as a vital piece of living a healthy life. “As more people realize the resources right around the corner, they’ll be able to get back to nature and away from their computer and television screens,” said Smith.
So remember, when the concrete jungle and obnoxious pedestrians of the city begin to annoy you, look for a natural retreat and enjoy Bloomington’s beautiful and plentiful outdoor getaways.