COVID-19 has stolen lives and livelihoods. It’s also taken a giant eraser to the calendar of our lives.
This week Gov. JB Pritzker released a five-phase reopening plan for Illinois. The best-case scenario is that McLean County moves into Phase 3 (Recovery) on May 29, which allows gatherings of 10 people or fewer and reopens nonessential businesses. Then, if all goes as planned, we’d be able to start July in Phase 4 (Revitalization), with crowds of 50 or less allowed.
With that reality, a look ahead at Bloomington-Normal’s calendar for the next five months is filled with tough choices, cancellations, and millions of dollars in lost economic impact.
MAY
Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University have already canceled their in-person May commencement ceremonies. ISU’s spring graduates will be able to walk in the December 2020 ceremonies. IWU’s commencement is pushed back until Aug. 2. Heartland Community College in Normal willhost its virtual commencement May 15.
High school graduations have also been impacted. Bloomington High School will do a drive-through graduation May 24, with a full in-person ceremony “tentatively” scheduled for Dec. 13 at Grossinger Motors Arena. Normal Community and Normal West have rescheduled their graduations for Aug. 1 at the arena, but only “if our public health guidelines allow for it.”
Bloomington-Normal’s four public pools (Holiday, O’Neil, Fairview, and Anderson) normally open in late May. But they will not open this summer, officials said Friday. Bloomington leaders plan to use the shutdown to jumpstart a long-awaited new aquatics project at the O’Neil Pool site. Demolition of the old pool could begin as early as June.
“In every challenge there is an opportunity,” said Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason. “The guidelines that are here and the ones we know are likely coming due to COVID-19, combined with the condition of O’Neil Pool, made this a no-brainer. Let’s have a big win for the community out of this.”
One thing we can add back to our calendar in May is elective medical procedures. Starting May 11, Twin City providers are allowed to start working through a backlog of non-urgent surgeries—a major turning point for the local health care economy.
JUNE
If all goes as planned, McLean County would enter Phase 3 (Recovery) in June. That’s when offices, retail, barbershops and salons can reopen to the public with precautions. Employers will be deciding whether to bring workers back.
State Farm is Bloomington-Normal’s largest employer. The vast majority of its employees have worked from home since mid-March. Its work-from-home plans run through May 31.
“Our approach to reopening State Farm facilities in Bloomington and beyond will be informed by medical professionals and government guidelines to determine what makes the most sense,” a State Farm spokesperson said. “As we approach (May 31), we will determine next steps based off what is in the best interest of our employees, our agents and team members, and our customers.”
At Country Financial, our third-largest employer, about 95% of employees are working from home through at least May 31. The company is “currently evaluating the recently announced ‘Restore Illinois’ plan and direction from other states in which we operate,” a spokesperson said. Country expects to share next steps, including a “gradual phased-in approach,” before May 31.
“We’re monitoring best practices in the market, considering how employees may be affected by factors like child care availability and reliance on public transit,” the company said. “Plus, we’re being mindful of how clients prefer to interact with us, using technology to connect with them where it makes sense.”
Uptown Normal will not host any festivals in June or July, including Make Music Normal and the Sugar Creek Arts Festival, the Town of Normal announced Friday. The arts festival, which raises money for the McLean County Arts Center, will be replaced by a virtual event July 11.
Some events had already been swept from June’s calendar. The Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games, set for June 12-14 in Bloomington-Normal, have been canceled. Ditto for the WGLT Summer Concert in downtown Bloomington. Also canceled was the Jehovah’s Witnesses events at Grossinger Motors Arena, with last year brought 27,000 people to town for an estimated economic impact of $1.1 million.
The next 3rd Sunday Market is scheduled for June 21. (The May 17 market is canceled.) Location may also be an issue: 3rd Sunday Markets are typically hosted at the Interstate Center, which right now is being used as a state-run drive-through testing site for COVID-19.
JULY
There will be no Fourth of July fireworks displays at Bloomington’s Miller Park and Normal’s Fairview Park this year, officials announced Friday.
The coronavirus has already taken away three big summer traditions at ISU: the Preview new-student orientation program, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival at Ewing Cultural Center, and Concerts on the Quad. (Preview is still happening online.)
The Children’s Discovery Museum will remain closed for general admission through July, or until large groups are permitted to gather. Some limited camp programs will be available.
There are still some decisions to be made or announced. The Community Concert Band’s concerts at Franklin Park have been canceled for June, but July’s status is to be determined.
The Normal CornBelters have already delayed the start of their season from May 28 until July 1, but that date was announced before the governor’s phased-in plan was announced. The Prospect League was working to condense the season to about 45 days.
AUGUST
State and local officials will have their hands full deciding how and when to reopen schools and universities, which normally return from summer break at the end of August.
The McLean County Fair remains scheduled for Aug. 5-9. Organizers won’t make a decision about the fair until mid-June, said McLean County Farm Bureau manager Mike Swartz.
“We are considering options that would fit within the governor’s newly announced five-phase plan,” he said. “At the very least we would like to host the livestock shows, but under the current phase schedule it doesn’t look like that can happen unless something would change within the phase plan.”
For 4-H projects—a big part of the fair—a decision is not expected until around July 1. If the McLean County 4-H Show is not able to be held in person, it will move to an online virtual exhibition platform, said Bobbie Lewis-Sibley, county director for University of Illinois Extension.
“We are preparing for both scenarios,” Lewis-Sibley said.
Another question mark is Bruegala, which was held in mid-August last year. The Jaycees' beer-and-wine fundraiser would be celebrating its 21st year—the legal drinking age. Last year it raised $40,000 for four local nonprofits.
SEPTEMBER
September is normally when we celebrate the return of football. But the Restore Illinois plan sets a high bar for when sporting events with 50+ fans will be allowed. That seemingly can’t happen until Phase 5 (Restored), when a vaccine or a “readily available” treatment option is necessary.
The first of six home football games at ISU’s Hancock Stadium is scheduled for Sept. 12.
“We are currently planning to open the football season, as scheduled,” said Athletics Director Larry Lyons. “Of course, what we plan for today could easily change tomorrow, next week or next month.”
Lyons said “we do not know when our football student-athletes will be allowed to return to campus,” and discussions about preseason length and structure are still taking place.
“The safety of our student-athletes, donors, fans and alumni as well as our campus community and athletics staff will be of primary importance as we move forward,” he said.
It’s also unclear what high school football Fridays will look like. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) recently said it’s preparing the potential that games could have limited or even no attendance. Executive Director Craig Anderson said that wouldn't be ideal, especially come postseason time.
“It’s hard to imagine, honestly,” Anderson said. “Having football playoffs without fans really hurts our bottom line and is something the association would have to look very closely at.”
OCTOBER
The city-owned Grossinger Motors Arena already lost the March-through-May season for its newest indoor football team, called the Midway Marauders.
October is when the arena’s new FPHL hockey team is supposed to begin its first season, which would have between 28-30 home games through April 2021.
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