A 911 call came into the Bloomington Police and someone reported a “shots fired” or “firecracker” and when the cops arrived they found a gun had been fired and that a car and house were hit, and this led to neighbors pushing for improvements to be made at Clearwater Park.
The call was placed in July of 2023 and shortly after the incident concerned neighbors got together and talked about lighting improvements being made to Clearwater Park. Ultimately the concerned neighbors got what they wanted.
“It’s believed that gatherings at the adjacent Clearwater Park may play a role in this and other incidents,” said former Illinois State Representative Dan Brady, speaking at a Bloomington City Council meeting on Oct. 23.”Concerned neighbors wanted their voices heard and asked what could be done?”
Brady said that when the citizens reached out to the Bloomington Police Department they found the response to the neighborhood was quick and direct.
A neighborhood meeting was held on July 20 in Clearwater Park. Over 60 residents attended, according to Brady.
The Bloomington Police Department spoke and listened at the meeting. Also attending was Bloomington Council Member Tom Crumpler.
“Dan Brady contacted me as a Ward Nine Council Member and said, ‘Hey this happened in Clearwater Park and there are residents very concerned about it and they are wanting to pull together a community meeting at the park. Would you be able to attend?'” said Crumpler.
According to Brady, Crumpler spoke at the meeting and listened as well.
Suggestions made at the meeting by BPD became priorities according to Brady.
“Today Clearwater Park is safer and the lighting is now shining in the parking lot, in the gazebo area, the basketball and volleyball court area and parts of the walking path,” said Brady.
Crumpler said it was very much community driven.
“The police department was well represented and they listened carefully. The issues were things we could fix. There was a lack of lighting. The parking lot had no light in it and people were just concerned about their safety,”said Crumpler.
According to Crumpler the lighting was installed within a month of the meeting.
These circumstances brought a whole lot of people together and they felt like that this was an opportunity for them to say something specific about how they could change their community and now people are invested and believe change is possible, according to Crumpler.
