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Will Detmer Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 277 Google reviews · Running trail in Bloomington, Indiana · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

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

Confirmed from Will Detmer 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.

PavedShadedStroller / ADARestroomsWaterTrailhead parkingQuiet

Pretty park with playgrounds, trails and a pond, plus community gardens.

What runners say about Will Detmer Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (277 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 7 mentions

“Also, the shelter house with places to grill is always kept clean as is the bathrooms.”

🌳 shaded & cool 4 mentions

“Great little park, usually pretty shaded in the afternoon.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 6 mentions

“Peaceful, quiet setting with not only a park and basketball goals but a small pond as well!”

This park is like a small hidden getaway. It has a small playground, walking trail, pond to fish, and basketball court. The best part is the garden rental plots available to the public for rent. Raised beds as well as plot in the ground. They provide all the tools needed to become a successful gardener.

★★★★★ — Gina , Nov 2022

Newer Bloomington park space. Community garden. Pond with fishing dock. Trail. Basketball courts. Picnic shelter and playground. Clean public restroom. 1 disc golf hole. Not sure if only first installs or only one for practice. Love to stroll here in the evening.

★★★★★ — Shadymonukah , Oct 2021

I love this park. Its shaded and has a restroom. There are also drinking fountains and sheltered picnic tables. Lots of pretty flowers and a community garden. Theres also a trail for walking. The playground equipment is nice. The park itself is easy to find and there is a parking lot. Its rarely that busy.

★★★★★ — Rachel , Jun 2018

Great park, community garden, fishing hole, basketball hoops, short hikes, playground. Plenty of parking. Handicap accessible. Seasonal water fountains(would freeze in winter). Rarely busy. Usually only a couple cars in lot at any given point.

★★★★★ — Jon , Jul 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 277 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.

🚻 Restrooms 6 mentions

“I particularly enjoy the little library and the "work station" with common hand tools next to the bathroom.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 6 mentions

“Peaceful, quiet setting with not only a park and basketball goals but a small pond as well!”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“Great little park, usually pretty shaded in the afternoon.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“The park itself is easy to find and there is a parking lot.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“Has a community garden, a pond for fishing and a nice paved trail.”

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🚰 Water fountains 2 mentions

“There are also drinking fountains and sheltered picnic tables.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Will Detmer Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • 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
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitemcparksandrec.org
  • Phone(812) 349-2805
  • Social Facebook

Hours

Monday 8 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–6 PM
Thursday 8 AM–6 PM
Friday 8 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday 8 AM–8 PM
Sunday 8 AM–6 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 Will Detmer Park

4140 W Vernal Pike, Bloomington, IN 47404

Get directions

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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.