06/18/2026
On today's of the West Bloomington Time Capsule, we are showcasing the history of the WBRP's mission!
The West Bloomington Revitalization Project mission is centered around bringing pride to the West Side by acknowledging the rich history that surrounds the area, and aiming to always improve our community.
Our neighborhoods, Olde Towne and Gridley Allin Prickett (GAP), are long-established areas of Bloomington located directly west of downtown along Market Street. Our area is home to historic housing, long-standing churches, social service agencies, and small businesses. However, our community faces unique challenges and was identified as an area of concern and need for intervention in 2007.
A decision was made amongst public, private, and nonprofit sectors to take significant steps towards revitalizing West Bloomington neighborhoods. This included the formation of the West Bloomington Task Force – a group focused on creating a comprehensive plan to achieve significant community development. The West Bloomington Task Force was made up of representatives from the City of Bloomington, the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area, State Farm Bank, service area companies, non-profit organizations and social service agencies, and the GAP and Olde Towne neighborhood associations.
It was then that we made commitments to the West Bloomington Revitalization Project with intent to serve as a model for change for other neighborhoods in the Bloomington-Normal area. Through our strategic planning, we were able to identify key themes in which we needed to focus our attention: economic development, safety, housing, youth, and education. These themes are highlighted in the various programs we offer today and we hope to continue evolving our efforts as we continue our mission. In 2011, the WBRP was granted nonprofit status as a 501(c)3 organization. Since its founding, the WBRP has evolved in many ways, with the help of community members, local partners, and university students.
