Petition to save the IU XC course

Matt - thanks for posting here. I've signed the petition.

Some questions -

First, it appears the golf course is knocking out the swail at the 4K mark from the plans. Is this true?

Will the 9 hole golf course still exist, and is that taking up any of the course?

Last - and perhaps most distressingly - I've seen nothing from Helmer and the rest of the Athletic Department on this. Are they negotiating in silence - any inkling?

To see the parking lots taking up the course in the projected drawing is sickening, particularly when parking garages are so prevalent on the rest of the campus.

They have obviously improved the course since, but I ran it in the 90s. It was an unimproved field at the time that had footing like a plowed up wheat field. I'm lucky I only had sore feet and ankles at the end and nothing was broken.

The good news is that around Bloomington, IN there is basically infinite land and they will be able to find a park or a corn field or something and plant a grass strip around it to be used as a cross country course. Problem solved, crisis averted.

Ran it in the 90s wrote:

They have obviously improved the course since, but I ran it in the 90s. It was an unimproved field at the time that had footing like a plowed up wheat field. I'm lucky I only had sore feet and ankles at the end and nothing was broken.

The good news is that around Bloomington, IN there is basically infinite land and they will be able to find a park or a corn field or something and plant a grass strip around it to be used as a cross country course. Problem solved, crisis averted.

This is an oversimplification of the situation. The IU cross country at its current location is very accessible for students and the community. You can run from campus and many parts of town to reach the course. That makes it very convenient for people to use. Finding another random field on the outskirts of town will not have the same accessibility.

Hello, and thanks for signing! I'll answer to the best of my knowledge. The par 3 course is going away entirely, and I believe the entire Championship (18-hole) course, or at least a significant part of it, is being redesigned. This includes the two holes that would then be located where the northern half of the IU XC course is (visible in the photo that accompanies the petition). I think the driving range will also survive. I have likewise seen nothing public from Helmer or others within IU Athletics, but I don't think that is particularly surprising given the hierarchy of the institution (I'd think jobs could be at risk if people publicly criticized decisions coming down from above). I'm sure any negotiating that happened or discussion on how to weigh priorities and what to value all happened behind closed doors. Honestly, that is the biggest complaint of our group—the complete lack of transparency and public engagement. How can you adequately value what has been used as a public health resource for decades if you never engage the public on the issue? This is not the first time that Bloomington citizens have felt this way about IU decisions. They tend to happen in a vacuum with no public input. And while neither IU or IU Health are legally obligated to engage the public, we believe that being good members of this community demands it. Finally, after an off-the-record conversation with someone from IU Athletics today, I am optimistic for at least a generally positive, partial solution here. We still absolutely plan to push IU Health on their decision though, encouraging them not to build the SE section of surface parking where the XC course is.

the monuments are awesome wrote:

Matt - thanks for posting here. I've signed the petition.

Some questions -

First, it appears the golf course is knocking out the swail at the 4K mark from the plans. Is this true?

Will the 9 hole golf course still exist, and is that taking up any of the course?

Last - and perhaps most distressingly - I've seen nothing from Helmer and the rest of the Athletic Department on this. Are they negotiating in silence - any inkling?

To see the parking lots taking up the course in the projected drawing is sickening, particularly when parking garages are so prevalent on the rest of the campus.

Thanks Matt. I've reached out to the Illini current team - who just ran the course at Big Tens this year - to send their notes as well.

Ultimately - a full campaign to the full Board of Directors (which includes President McRobbie) will likely be necessary. If not already too late.

Thanks for your efforts.

Matt Flaherty wrote:

How can you adequately value what has been used as a public health resource for decades if you never engage the public on the issue?

This is not the first time that Bloomington citizens have felt this way about IU decisions. They tend to happen in a vacuum with no public input. And while neither IU or IU Health are legally obligated to engage the public, we believe that being good members of this community demands it.

What's the solution your group is suggesting?

Parking structures cost 2.5-3 times more per space. How many parking spots are being proposed? Is there a suggestion as to how this difference should be paid? How many stakeholders would prefer the more judicious use of funds?

Also, their website claims that: "More than 500 patients, staff, nurses, physicians and community stakeholders participated in more than 100 working sessions to help plan for the new facility including visioning, information sessions, programmatic planning meetings, triad groups and briefings." It sounds like they made a concerted effort to engage and include public input?

Matt Flaherty wrote:

We sent out a press release to media outlets yesterday and are getting a lot of traction. Multiple stories will be coming out in the next few days.

Update?

It appears to be adjacent to the old course, but to lose the swail at the 4K mark is a very sad blow. Still, kudos for at least doing something. Glad I ran it one last time at the Coach Bell memorial.