Tag: Neighborhoods

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Spinning Towards Inclusion – Morningside Park welcomes the We-Go-Round

A dome with vertical spokes sits on an attractive slab against the background of the rest of the park. It has seats inside and the backs of the seats are painted with seasonal motifs. Visible on the front are a winter scene with a deer and three snow-covered trees, and a scene with two trees and a variety of animals including a beaver and a wolf facing the center of the panel.

In an enchanting display of community spirit and dedication to inclusivity, the Morningside Neighborhood Association, in collaboration with Muncie Parks and Recreation, proudly unveiled the newest addition to Morningside Park – the We-Go-Round. This vibrant carousel of joy was brought to life thanks in part to the financing from ARP funds, showcasing a community’s commitment to creating shared spaces that celebrate the diversity of abilities.

The We-Go-Round, installed by Landscape Structures, is more than just a playground piece; it’s a revolutionary design that invites children of all abilities to whirl in unison. With strategic seating areas and plenty of space, the structure welcomes wheelchairs, even those without wheel-locking mechanisms, ensuring no child is left on the sidelines.

Mayor Ridenour stands with Neighborhood Association members in front of the new We-Go-Round. A man in the center of the group holds a large pair of black, ribbon-cutting scissors.

The ribbon was cut on Monday, October 16th, 2023, with Mayor Ridenour, Deputy Mayor Ivy, Superintendent Malone, Park Staff, Neighborhood Association members, and the Muncie Police Department in attendance. The We-Go-Round, with its shade-providing rooftop and central handhold, promises to be the hub of laughter and shared experiences.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in making this dream a reality.  Come visit, see the joy in motion, and let your hearts spin with delight at Morningside Park.

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Pizza and Place: Cultural Neighborhood Mapping

A room full of people sitting at tables with two speakers standing up. They are discussing cultural mapping

September 27th from 6-7:30 p.m.

Join us for a family-friendly event at Madjax Makerforce on East Main Street.

Cultural mapping is a process of drawing and visualizing a place, its landmarks, and traditions. It helps people understand the significance of their neighborhood, heritage, and the richness of the cultural landscape they live in. It’s also just fun to doodle.

Through mapping and drawing from memory, we learn about places, heritage, history, cultural traditions, and significant places in our neighborhoods and Muncie. By creating a visual representation of our neighborhoods, we can better understand and appreciate the richness of our community’s culture. It can also point to challenges too.

Additionally, cultural mapping can be used as a tool for preserving cultural heritage. We can learn about the importance of preserving landmarks, sites, and the role they can play in creating community attachment over time.

Join us at Madjax Makerforce and let’s celebrate the diverse cultures that make our neighborhoods thrive! We will eat pizza too!

Organized by: J.P. Hall, College of Architecture and Planning

Reserve Your Spot
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The free Neighborhoods Pool Party Tuesday at Tuhey Park made quite a splash with families!

The event was hosted by Muncie Action Plan, with help from Ball State University’s Office of Community Engagement, Shafer Leadership Academy, Woof Boom Radio, and the City of Muncie. 

When they weren’t in the pool, partygoers played yard games and “Muncie Bingo,” and enjoyed pizza, beverages, and popsicles. Kids received some cool summertime swag – beach balls and bubbles. 

Prizes for the bingo winners included Minnetrista memberships, Holiday World passes, WLBC totes, and more! And parents and caregivers received the gift of very sleepy kiddos after a high-energy evening.

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Halteman Neighborhood Spotlight

Photo of park sign

The expansion of Halteman Park into a Multi-generational Recreational Space project has reached Phase Two. The work will continue to serve as a model for other placemaking endeavors around the city. Click here to learn more about Phase One and how to get involved with Phase Two.

Photo of JP Hall provided by MAP

J.P. Hall, BSU Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation and Associate Chair, recently received the 2023 David Sursa Leadership Award for the impact on Halteman Village and the Muncie community as a whole. 

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Neighborhoods USA Conference Recognizes Muncie

Photo of team that attended the conference to accept the award.

The Muncie team that traveled to the Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) Conference returned with an award, great feedback, and some wonderful neighborhood ideas.

The 48th annual conference, which brings together people/organizations committed to building and strengthening neighborhoods, was held in El Paso, Texas, May 24-27.

The team featured Heather Williams, Ball State Office of Community Engagement associate director and manager of the Building Better Communities Initiative; Krista Flynn, OCE program coordinator and MAP member; Megan “Mo” Orbin of MAP; Mitch Isaacs (executive director of Shafer Leadership Academy, MAP board president), and Dustin Clark (City of Muncie).

They placed fifth in Regional Best Neighborhood Program in the Social Revitalization/Neighborliness category for the IDEA Conference, which brings together leaders representing Muncie’s neighborhoods to develop and strengthen community-building skills.

“I learned that we are a part of a vast national effort to revitalize communities at the grassroots level. It’s not just Muncie that seeks to engage residents; it’s a movement happening across the county, ” Mitch said. “Judges and NUSA board members both commented on our passion for the IDEA Conference. They could tell we love the conference and believe in the impact it has on neighborhood leaders!”

Williams, Flynn, and Orbin also presented “Neighborhoods ARP Funding: Participatory Budgeting in Action” at the conference.

A description of the presentation from the NUSA program described it this way: “The City of Muncie, IN, allocated $1 million to help combat the effects of COVID-19 within Muncie’s neighborhoods. The process that developed to ensure the equitable distribution of those funds focused on residents’ voices and meeting the needs of each individual neighborhood association.”

Krista said it was “exciting to share how Muncie is utilizing the ARP funds.” ”Several folks from our session stayed after to ask more in-depth questions on how they can do the same in their community,” she added. Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA) is a national, non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. Created in 1975 to share information and experiences used to build stronger communities, NUSA continues to encourage networking and information-sharing to facilitate the development of partnerships among neighborhood organizations, government, and the private sector for the ultimate goal of strengthening every neighborhood.