Saturday afternoons have a basketball option again. Bloomington Parks and Recreation announced Sept. 30 that Open Gym is back. The gym at Substance Church, 6900 W. 115th St., is open every Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. The city hasn't said when the fall run ends. As of this week its Open Gym program page still shows only the spring schedule, with no fall dates or cancellations listed.
The format is simple. The city calls it casual, unstructured play in a relaxed setting. People of all ages can shoot hoops, work on their skills and stay active at their own pace. There are no scheduled games, leagues or team matchups, so you won't find a bracket, a scoreboard or a coach yelling about box-outs.
It costs $5 per person per visit, and a family pays $20 at most. If you're bringing 3 or more kids, that cap is the best deal in the building. You don't need to register ahead of time. Just show up, but everyone has to sign a liability waiver before playing. All ages are welcome, and the city said kids under 13 need a parent or guardian supervising them. So this isn't a drop-off-and-run-errands situation.
Checking ahead is worth it, judging by last season. The spring run went through May 16, 2026. The city skipped March 28 and canceled the May 23 and May 30 sessions, which ended the season 2 weeks early. Holiday weekends are the likeliest Saturdays to drop off the fall schedule too, so check the program page before you load up the car.
Questions go to the Parks and Recreation Department at 952-563-8877 or parksrec@BloomingtonMN.gov. Now's a good time to find the basketball, pump it back up and see whether your sneakers survived the summer.
