Bloomington is one step closer to launching one of its most ambitious public projects ever—a $101.8 million Community Health and Wellness Center along Penn Avenue. Set to replace the aging Creekside Community Center, this brand-new 106,000-square-foot facility will offer a modern, expansive hub for residents of all ages.
City planners, in partnership with HGA architecture and J.E. Dunn Construction, have unveiled renderings of the two-story structure, which includes features like indoor aquatics, full-size gymnasiums, fitness zones, a kids club, teen and senior gathering spaces, and flexible event rooms. It will also house offices for the Parks and Recreation Department and the Bloomington Community Health Center.
The nearly 9-acre development at 9801 and 9841 Penn Ave. and 9900 Newtown Ave. sits on a prominent transit-connected site. The City of Bloomington will bring the proposal before the Planning Commission this July, with a City Council vote expected in August 2025.
Funding for the project comes from a half-percent local sales tax, overwhelmingly approved by Bloomington voters in fall 2023. That tax went into effect in April 2024. If approvals stay on track, demolition of Creekside could begin by October, with construction starting as early as November.
This new community center represents a significant investment in Bloomington’s future, creating a health-focused, inclusive gathering space for residents of all ages.
Are you excited for this development? Would you use a space like this? Let us know in the comments!
