Bloomington Parks and Rec recommends reopening Lower Cascades Road
The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, after a 15-month pilot study that converted .6 miles of the two-lane road through the park to a pedestrian- and bicycle-only trail, will recommend to the Board of Park Commissioners at the regular Park Board meeting on June 22 that the road be re-opened to vehicle traffic. With approval from the Board of Public Works (BPW), the road through the park had been temporarily converted to a trail on March 13, 2020 in order to expand and integrate with Bloomington’s network of walking and biking trails; provide a safe, accessible destination for recreation and exercise; and to offer bicycle commuters additional options for safer routes. Originally planned as a six-month pilot project, the road closure was extended through June 2021 in order to provide a more accurate picture of how the road closure might impact traffic related to university sporting events, which had been cancelled in the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staff recommendations to create a new experience for use of the road include:
- Re-paving and striping the road
- Installing traffic calming devices
- Installing signage (speed limit 20 mph; no trucks)
- Installing bollards to prevent vehicle access through the concrete spillway of the creek
- Converting the gravel parking lot next to the Waterfall Shelter to greenspace
- Converting parking spaces in the southernmost playground parking lot to create one accessible van parking space, four accessible parking spaces, and two, 15-minute loading/unloading spaces
- Installing lighting in key locations throughout the park
The Public Works Department will request from the BPW at their regular July 6 meeting approval to continue the temporary closure of the road in order to implement proposed road improvements. Results of the surveys are available on the Lower Cascades Pilot Road Conversion website, here.
IU researchers have made a discovery that could improve the health of honey bee populations.
Honey bees are the most economically important agricultural pollinators on Earth, but their populations have been in decline for decades. At Indiana University, researchers are investigating how to use the honey bee’s natural microbiome to keep them healthy, which has implications for food security and the agricultural industry. In a paper published June 8 in the journal mBio, IU scientists identified a specific bacterial microbe that protects bees from fungal infection. The microbe is found in key colony environments such as queen guts and developing larval bees, as well as in honey and pollen. An average of 40% to 50% of honey bee colonies in the U.S. die annually. Pests, pathogens, nutritional stress, pesticide use and agricultural practices — such as the use of antibiotics — are likely causes of the declining survival rates. The ripple effect is a food security issue. It’s estimated that one of every three mouthfuls of food in the U.S. depends upon pollination from bees. The negative effects would be particularly stark for popular crops such as fruits and tree nuts.
Salem Team Wins Innovate WithIN High School Pitch Competition
High school students across Indiana gathered downtown Indianapolis Saturday for the final round of the fourth Innovate WithIN™ pitch competition, pitching their ideas to a panel of judges from Indiana’s entrepreneurial community. After advancing through two rounds of the competition, Southern Indiana Bait Co. LLC (SIBCo.) from Salem High School in Salem, Indiana, was named the overall winner of the statewide initiative hosted by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the STARTedUP Foundation. SIBCo., along with all of the final 10 teams, received mentoring services through the STARTedUP Foundation, which focused on helping students develop and execute their innovation and entrepreneurship ideas, as well as providing access to the Foundation’s network of mentors and advisers.
Innovate WithIN is Indiana’s first statewide high school pitch competition, drawing 245 online applications from 815 Hoosier students at 128 high schools. Students were asked to work individually or in small groups to submit an innovative idea for a business, product, service or venture. After completing video pitches and regional competitions, the final 10 teams, representing Bartholomew, Boone, DeKalb, Elkhart, Hamilton, Lake, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery and Washington counties, were invited to Indianapolis to pitch their idea to a panel of judges. As part of Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda to make Indiana a hub for innovation and develop a 21st century skilled and ready workforce, the state is committed to helping cultivate innovative ideas in the classroom. The Innovate WithIN™ pitch competition fosters an entrepreneurial spirit among our leaders of tomorrow, empowering students to hone their innovative thinking.