Mayor Kerry Thomson is inviting the public to share their thoughts on whether the city should close part of Kirkwood Avenue annually to motor vehicles for most of the year.
Kirkwood Avenue would be closed to motor vehicles from Walnut Street to Indiana Avenue from April 1 to Nov. 15 under a new law the Bloomington City Council passed last week, but the measure may face a veto from Thomson.
The new law would take effect in 2027, but the council approved the measure by only the narrowest of margins — 5-4 — leaving its survival in doubt. Thomson, who has said she opposes closing Kirkwood to cars at this point, can veto the legislation. The council would need six votes to override her veto. Thomson has 10 days after the law is formally presented to her to sign or veto it.
The mayor said over the weekend that in response to community interest and requests, she will host a community conversation from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at City Hall, 401 N. Morton St.
“Kirkwood belongs to the community and its future should be shaped with the community,” Thomson said in a news release. “I want to hear from residents, businesses, downtown workers, visitors, and anyone who cares about how this important corridor can best serve Bloomington.”
The council in 2025 passed a law closing the corridor to vehicles each year, but it gave the city engineer the authority to suspend the program. Thomson administration officials said in February the city would keep Kirkwood open to traffic this year. Some council members argued that decision violated the spirit of the law, which prompted the council to revisit the matter last week.
Downtown business owners and residents are split on the issue.
Some business owners have said the 2025 law gave them the certainty they needed to buy outdoor furniture, shade and other equipment. Others said allowing only pedestrians on the road during the summer, when high temperatures and lack of students reduce foot traffic, makes little sense and harms their businesses.
Some residents have said the closure makes it harder for people with mobility issues to access the area. But others have said studies show pedestrian-only streets fail primarily when cities “under-invest or implement half measures.
People can participate in Tuesday’s meeting in person and online. The city said it will share Zoom access information at bloomington.in.gov.
Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington mayor seeks public input on possible Kirkwood road closure
Reporting by Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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By Boris Ladwig, The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
