Franke Hopkins Team Real Estate Bloomington IL And Normal IL

A Young Family's Guide to Buying a New Home in Bloomington-Normal IL - Parks and Recreation

Published: Feb 16, 2012

We often hear real estate experts say that good location is the foremost rule that should apply in your search for a new home. In finding good real estate anywhere, gathering pertinent information about the location of a home is as important as the house itself. Our series - A Young Family's Guide to Buying a New Home in Bloomington-Normal IL will provide you with many reasons why Bloomington-Normal IL is the perfect place to settle as a young family.

We recently did one on schools, and we found out that the general theme for why we need to consider location as a factor in choosing a home, is primarily for our children’s welfare. Our families deserve only the best, and as your Young Family Experts in homes for sale in Bloomington and Normal IL, we are happy to give sound advice and tips in your choice of location for your new home.

Parks and recreational areas are what we will try to tackle next. Bloomington-Normal has a number of parks and recreational activities that will sure to please the whole family. These facilities are an essential element in any neighborhood. Parks are complex parts of a city. They are made up of smaller sub-components that foster the different needs of the family members. Their distinctive properties make them one of the favorite central meeting points in an urban area, and their appeal just makes people want to relax.

Christopher Humes, Urban Architect said: If the 20th century was dedicated to buildings, the 21st will be about the spaces between them. It is important to note this as many current real estate principles focus very much on conservation and preservation. Parks can revitalize a slow commercial area, allow for the growth of faltering neighborhoods, and provide sustainable development. They serve as walking, resting, and meeting places. Parks and other recreational areas give a sense of pride - a landmark - to the people who enjoy it.

Revitalization is one of the inherent strengths of a park that makes houses within their proximity, highly valued. People stay near parks so going for walks would be more leisurely, as opposed to going for a stroll mall or any highly urbanized area. The fresh air alone is priceless. The open, natural atmosphere makes a more conducive environment for exercise, and the peace and quiet is good for mental wellness. When it comes to health, one truly gets revitalized when living near a park.

Bloomington’s pride is Miller Park. It is a public park in the southwest part of the city, on a large block south of Wood Street and east of Morris Avenue, that features Miller Park Pavilion, Miller Park Lake, and Miller Park Zoo. There are two softball fields, sand volleyball courts, a playground and a mini golf course. Miller Park also has two war memorials. There is even a preserved steam locomotive, a coal car, and caboose from the Nickel Plate Road which formerly serviced the area from 1881 to 1964.

Listed below are the different facilities of Miller Park and other parks and recreational areas in Bloomington.

MILLER PARK PAVILION
1020 South Morris Avenue, Bloomington, IL
Bloomington, IL 61704
309-434-2255
Website

The pavilion at Miller Park was restored in 1977 and continues to be a popular spot for a variety of activities, both public and private. Different events are usually held here. Rates vary depending upon room size and type of event. Reservations can be made starting January 1 of one year for the following year.

MILLER PARK ZOO
1020 South Morris Avenue
Bloomington, IL 61701
309-434-2250
Website

The Miller Park Zoo offers many exhibits and activities that whole family can enjoy. Zoo inhabitants include a Sumatran tiger, river otter, Galapagos tortoise, Amur leopard, sun bears, reindeer, sea lion, red pandas, lemurs, bald eagles, pallas cats and red wolves. Miller Park Zoo features the Wallaby WalkAbout, ZooLab, Children's Zoo, Animals of Asia, and the Katthoefer Animal Building. There is also the Tropical America Rainforest where guests will see an array of animals and plants whose species make their home in the rainforests of Central and South America. Throughout the relaxing stroll, visitors are sure to be surprised by the mammals, reptiles, and beautiful free flying birds spotted along the way.

PEPSI ICE CENTER
201 South Roosevelt Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
309-434-2737
Website

The Pepsi Ice Center is an indoor public ice skating facility operated by the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department, featuring a full-sized sheet of ice: 200' x 85'. The facility offers ice skating lessons, public skating sessions, a comprehensive hockey program, learn to curl and curling leagues, skate rental and a concessions stand. There are also foot lockers, skates for rent and group discounts.

BLOOMINGTON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
600 North East Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
309-434-2787 / 866-686-9541
Website

The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) is the Bloomington’s center for its Cultural District. It includes a festival park and a creativity center for arts education. The fastest growing performing arts venue in downstate Illinois, the BCPA features a 1,200 seat auditorium and a multipurpose ballroom. A newly-renovated historic building with state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, the BCPA plays host to an annual season of nationally acclaimed touring artists, and is also home to over 20 area performing arts ensembles. More than 400 performances and community events take place here each year.

HIGHLAND PARK GOLF COURSE
1613 South Main Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
309-434-2200
Website

The Highland Park Golf Course is 18 holes, 5,539 yards and a par 70. The course offers cart rental and has a pro shop with club rental. This course offers narrow fairways lined by old, mature trees and small greens which make for a challenging round. A hilly terrain and beautiful, meandering creek make this a very scenic golf course.

PRAIRIE VISTA GOLF COURSE
502 West Hamilton Road
Bloomington, IL 61704
309.434.2217
Website

The Prairie Vista Golf Course is 18 holes, 6,745 yards and a par 72. The course offers cart rental, a driving range and has a pro shop with club rental. The American Contemporary Style course, designed by Roger Packard, features bentgrass tees, greens, fairways and water hazards on 16 of the 18 holes. Other amenities include a large practice putting green, large practice chipping green and a grass driving range.

THE DEN AT FOX CREEK
3002 Fox Creek Road
Bloomington, IL 61704
309-434-2300
Website

The Den at Fox Creek is 18 holes, 6,926 yards and a par 72. The course offers cart rental, a driving range and has a pro shop with club rental. This Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course features bentgrass tees, greens and fairways that complement the wild prairie grasses which group in the rough. This picturesque Scottish Links Style golf course features 131 strategically placed sand traps and water hazards on 9 of the 18 holes.

For more information on more parks and recreational activities in Bloomington IL, check out the City Parks and Recreation website.

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