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Franklin Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 195 Google reviews · Running trail in Bloomington, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Franklin Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ShadedScenic

Sandy playground and picnic-table-lined park featuring quiet benches, mature trees and shady spots for relaxing.

What runners say about Franklin Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (195 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“Beautiful and peaceful park, surrounded by historic homes.”

🌳 shaded & cool 7 mentions

“(big seller for my son) also have great summer shows and there is shade everywhere within walking distance of several other places.”

We were at this park 10 years ago since then they've added these neat little logs to walk around on and a sand area with a new play structure. Love it. The trees this time of year are gorgeous. Perfect weather before we all freeze!

★★★★★ — Cheryl , Oct 2020

I go here often to walk my dog. It's a great place to go in the summer especially when it starts to get too hot because there's a good amount of shade it makes it more tolerable when the temperatures get too high. There's a great amount of places to sit if you need to just relax.

★★★★★ — Teresa , May 2019

Great place to walk around. Does not get the attention and proper attention that it deserves from the city of Bloomington. Trees not properly groomed and lawn does not get properly maintained. I go there almost daily.

★★★★☆ — Richard , Apr 2021

A quaint park with lots of mature trees, off the beaten path. Lots of room for children to run and play. Does not have a lot of playground equipment, but the equipment it does have is very unique and imaginative.

★★★★☆ — Jordan , Jan 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 195 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🌳 Shaded / tree cover 7 mentions

“(big seller for my son) also have great summer shows and there is shade everywhere within walking distance of several other places.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 6 mentions

“Beautiful and peaceful park, surrounded by historic homes.”

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Plan your run at Franklin Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable

Hours

Monday 5 AM–7 PM
Tuesday 5 AM–7 PM
Wednesday 5 AM–7 PM
Thursday 5 AM–7 PM
Friday 5 AM–7 PM
Saturday 5 AM–7 PM
Sunday 5 AM–7 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Franklin Park

300-398 E Chestnut St, Bloomington, IL 61701

Get directions

Running trails near Bloomington

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Underwood Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 294 reviews

Normal, IL

Scenic

Public green space with a playground and an outdoor theater.

1.1 miles away

Ewing Park ll

4.5 ★★★★★ 164 reviews

Bloomington, IL

ShadedDog-friendly

Kid-friendly park with a playground and baseball fields as well as a wooded area for bird-watching.

1.2 miles away

White Oak Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 458 reviews

Bloomington, IL

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Modest open space with sports facilities & a playground, plus a paved track around a lake.

1.2 miles away

Miller Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,243 reviews

Bloomington, IL

LitScenic

Zoo, playground, lake and splash pad complex, plus a golf course.

1.4 miles away

Ewing Park I

4.5 ★★★★★ 361 reviews

Bloomington, IL

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Large public area featuring playgrounds, a playground for small children, trails, baseball diamonds and picnic spots.

1.5 miles away

Anderson Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 453 reviews

Normal, IL

Shaded

Recreation venue with a pool, playground, walking trail, picnic areas, and athletic fields.

1.8 miles away

All running trails in Bloomington, IL →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.