What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 7pm Tuesday 9am - 7pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 7pm Friday 9am - 7pm

City of Bloomington, IN - Banneker Community Center

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City of Bloomington, IN - Banneker Community Center

The Banneker Community Center has a rich history in the Bloomington community.

The Banneker Community Center is a City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation community and cultural hub dedicated to inspiring residents to maximize their full potential. The facility opened in 1915 as the Banneker School, a "colored school" that featured 93 elementary students and three teachers. In 1949, the Indiana State Legislature passed an act eliminating segregated schools and in 1951 the Banneker School was closed and renamed the Fairview Annex, where 61 black and white sixth-grade students were educated. In 1954, nearby Fairview Elementary School was renovated and the Fairview Annex was purchased by the City of Bloomington to become the Westside Community Center, operated by the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department. In 1993, following a lengthy renovation, former Westside Community Center director Norman Merrifield successfully petitioned to have the facility renamed the Benjamin Banneker Community Center in honor of the original Banneker School. The Banneker Community Center has featured after school programming, summer camps, and community events that aim to inspire participants to maximize their potential since 1954. The facility continues to be a hub for area minorities to celebrate culture and diversity in a safe and welcoming environment.

09/18/2026

Sending a huge THANK YOU to for providing tickets to experience Frozen In Concert this past weekend through the Give the Magic program. We had an absolutely magical time! ❄️

09/15/2026

✨Banneker Staff Spotlight✨
"Hello Bloomington, my name is Brynna! This summer I had the honor of being Banneker Camp’s Garden and Outdoor Recreation Specialist, and now you can find me working at Banneker throughout the school year! I’m a senior at IU, majoring in environmental and sustainability studies, with a concentration in environmental justice, and minoring in community development and urban planning!"

09/12/2026

The Banneker Fall Fashion Show is right around the corner! Will it be YOU walking the red carpet and strutting down the catwalk? No experience necessary! Sign up at https://bton.in/fallshow

09/07/2026

Banneker Community Center is closed today, September 7, 2026. Regular hours will resume tomorrow. We apologize for the inconvenience.

08/31/2026

Today is the last day to register for Little Green Thumbs!

Register at https://webtrac.bloomington.in.gov/webtrac/web/search.html?Action=Start&SubAction=&_csrf_token=xi6K7371076L3T46192F2S4Q5S6152510E5H5Z5N690Z045U4G43085V62574Z09615T6N6M6Z5C4X6G4C6B5Q656L58045U3K596I0I5F455E4X6I4N4N5G53056W5Y5N&keyword=little+green+thumbs&keywordoption=Match+One&primarycode=&subtype=&category=&instructor=&dayoption=All&timeblock=&bydayonly=No&beginyear=&season=&beginmonth=&endmonth=&grade=&gender=&showwithavailable=No&spotsavailable=&display=Detail&module=AR&multiselectlist_value=&arwebsearch_buttonsearch=yes

08/28/2026

Registration closes Monday, Aug. 31 for Little Green Thumbs!

Little Green Thumbs gives kids ages 3–6 and their grownups four Saturdays of hands-on gardening, exploration, and plenty of opportunities for little hands to make big discoveries.

Saturdays, Sept. 5–26
10–11 a.m.
Banneker Community Center
$30 for all four sessions
Ages 3–6 with a parent or caregiver

Register at the following link: https://webtrac.bloomington.in.gov/webtrac/web/search.html?Primarycode=375301

08/25/2026

Thank you to Opportunity House, George Taliaferro Sport Association, Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District, Middle Way House, Fx Church, Soulcraft Bloomington, Jake Elwell, Tyann Barrentine, Debbie Gessinger, MCCSC STEM to Them Mobile Lab, Girls Inc., Bloomington Parks & Recreation Roving Naturalists, Mills pool, Bryan Park pool, Twin Lakes Recreation Center, Leann Ratcliff, Historic Tivoli Theatre, Kathleen Mills, MCCSC Child Nutrition Department, Monroe County Fire Department, Impact Teen Drivers, Western Skateland, The Pipsqueakery, Ashley Carter, the Fedorchak family, IU Media School, Joy Roberts, Stages Bloomington, Bloomington Park Foundation, Raising Cane’s, Get Onboard Active Living, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, IU Psychology Department, Bloomington Parkour, IU Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences Center for Urban Health, Tandem Birthing Center, Commission on the Status of Black Males, New Leaf New Life, Bloomington Parks & Recreation administrative team, Monroe County Youth Council, Tastes of Perfection LLC and all who made this summer one to remember!

08/24/2026

There are still spots available for Little Green Thumbs! Join us to explore the Banneker garden in full bloom. Register by August 31.

To register: https://webtrac.bloomington.in.gov/webtrac/web/search.html?Action=Start&SubAction=&_csrf_token=xi6K7371076L3T46192F2S4Q5S6152510E5H5Z5N690Z045U4G43085V62574Z09615T6N6M6Z5C4X6G4C6B5Q656L58045U3K596I0I5F455E4X6I4N4N5G53056W5Y5N&keyword=little+green+thumbs&keywordoption=Match+One&primarycode=&subtype=&category=&instructor=&dayoption=All&timeblock=&bydayonly=No&beginyear=&season=&beginmonth=&endmonth=&grade=&gender=&showwithavailable=No&spotsavailable=&display=Detail&module=AR&multiselectlist_value=&arwebsearch_buttonsearch=yes

08/19/2026

✨Banneker Staff Spotlight✨
Meet Miss Sydney! She joined us for Banneker Camp this summer and can now be found around the building doing our Little Tyke Preschool Activities. Miss Sydney recently graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Public Health. Fun fact: She lived in Thailand for 4 months!

08/14/2026

Little Green Thumbs is right around the corner! 🌱Designed for ages 3-6 years old (along with their caregiver) this hands on class explores the joys of gardening. $30 covers all classes and registration is required. Register by August 31 to join.

To register: https://webtrac.bloomington.in.gov/webtrac/web/search.html?Action=Start&SubAction=&_csrf_token=xi6K7371076L3T46192F2S4Q5S6152510E5H5Z5N690Z045U4G43085V62574Z09615T6N6M6Z5C4X6G4C6B5Q656L58045U3K596I0I5F455E4X6I4N4N5G53056W5Y5N&keyword=little+green+thumbs&keywordoption=Match+One&primarycode=&subtype=&category=&instructor=&dayoption=All&timeblock=&bydayonly=No&beginyear=&season=&beginmonth=&endmonth=&grade=&gender=&showwithavailable=No&spotsavailable=&display=Detail&module=AR&multiselectlist_value=&arwebsearch_buttonsearch=yes

Address

930 W 7th Street
Bloomington, IN
47404

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 7pm
Tuesday	9am - 7pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 7pm
Friday	9am - 7pm

Website

https://bloomington.in.gov/banneker

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