VIDEO: Muncie’s Primacy of Place

Muncie’s Primacy of Place Video Series was produced by Ball State Student Media and funded by the Ball Brothers Foundation. The series explores six main ‘pillars’ of quality of life: Parks and Recreation, Neighborhood Development, Farm to Table, Volunteerism, Education, and Philanthropy.

Research and practice shows the single most important element in strengthening local economies is attracting and retaining talented individuals. This requires not only good jobs and schools, but attention to the quality of life in individual communities. Primacy of Place describes a community’s strategic decision to dedicate resources to improving life experiences for residents, businesses and visitors. Read more about Ball State’s Primacy of Place initiative.

https://vimeo.com/126089675

Muncie GIS Resources Map for Neighborhoods

Kyle Johnson, Director of the Delaware County GIS Department presented at the March 2015 Neighborhood President’s Council meeting. In response to audience interest, Kyle created an online map of Muncie that includes the ability to view the following data:

  • Properties in Multiple Tax Sales (unsold tax delinquent properties)
  • Muncie Street and Park Trees
  • Crime Density (all Crimes 2009-2014)
  • Hardest Hit Funds Demolitions Properties (round 1 & 2)
  • Parcels (links to Beacon for info)
  • Fire Hydrants
  • Bicycle Friendly Roads
  • Bike Lanes
  • Art & Culture Trail
  • Greenways & Trails
  • Muncie Historic Districts
  • Parcels with Homestead Exemptions (owner occupied)
  • Neighborhood Boundaries
  • UBHA properties (all properties brought before the Unsafe Building hearing Authority since 2012)
  • Muncie Sidewalks
  • Zoning

In order to view the above listed layers, please click on “Content” in the left hand side of the browser. You will be able to turn layers on and off by checking the individual boxes.

Importance of Neighborhoods

– Collier’s Article – Why Neighborhoods Still Matter (February 2012)

– Here is an infographic (pdf) of why neighborhoods are important

– AARP created an online index of livability that rates communities across the nation for the services and amenities that impact our lives. Take a look to see how Muncie was rated.

– Place matters, especially for children. The New York Times published an interactive map that compares the potential for a child’s future success depending on where they live. This information is part of a larger studyundertaken by the Equality of Opportunity Project on how we can improve economic opportunities for low-income children. The most recent phase of this project looks at how neighborhoods affect upward mobility.

– The American Planning Association published an Urban Naturalist Guide based on “Genius of Common Sense,” by Glenna Lang and Marjorie Wunsch, which describes Jane Jacobs’s life and her insightful ideas about communities. The guide provides instructions on how to observe the community characteristics that make neighborhoods “vibrant, safe, and interesting places to live and visit.”

Neighborhood Safety

Muncie Police Department – Booklets & Brochures

For tips on starting a neighborhood watch download the Neighbor Helping Neighbor Handbook  (pdf)

Take Crime Prevention To Work (pdf)

Robotripping (pdf)

Campus Safety (pdf)

Auto Theft (pdf)

ATM Thefts (pdf)

Articles

This issue of Geography and Public Safety looks at topics, definitions, and technologies that demonstrate that neighborhoods matter. It shows how to use data about neighborhoods to combat crime and other public safety problems.

Infographics

Holiday Safety Tips (pdf)

Holiday Fire Safety Tips (infographic)

VIDEO: A Legacy Etched in Glass: The Ball Brothers in Muncie

This video, produced by Chris Flook was created by Ball State Student Media.  Follow them on Vimeo!

https://vimeo.com/104363786

Director: Ben Redar
Producer: Chris Kosinski
Executive Producer: Chris Flook
Assistant Director: Brad Dailey
Cinematographer: R. Aaron Webster
Interviewees: James Connolly, Lauren Connor, Jud Fisher, Bruce Geelhoed, Karen Vincent
Music: Barbara De Biasi
Voice-Over: Michael Dangerfield
1st Assistant Camera: Rachel Hopkins and Olivia Laird
2nd Assistant Camera: Haley Turk
Camera Operator: Joe Sailer
Chief Lighting Technician: Daniel Johnson
Grips: Mark Miller and Jillian Clark
Production Sound Mixer: Miranda Wuestefeld
Story by: Ben Redar and Chris Flook
Research: Ronald V. Morris and Chris Flook
Editors: Ben Redar and Chris Flook
Colorist: R. Aaron Webster
Motiongraphics and Animation: Chris Flook

Funding: Ball Brothers Foundation

Special Thanks: The Ball Brothers Foundation, Minnetrista, Kelli Huth, Stacey Alexander, John Straw, Neil Coil, Earl Conn, Augusta Wray, Susan Smith, Karen Vincent, Betty Brewer, Jud Fisher, Kris Scott, Jarred Scott, Tim Pollard, Joshua Carroll, Bracken Archives and Special Collections, Terry King, Lori Byers, Roger Lavery

Neighborhood Leadership Council

NLC Logo

The Neighborhood Leadership Council is an initiative of the Muncie Action Plan that brings together neighborhood association leaders from across the city of Muncie to share best practices, take advantage of educational opportunities, and connect with local resources and area non-profits. The group meets on the third Tuesday of each month on the third floor of the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center (400 W. Minnetrista Pkwy) at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. 

Updated list of neighborhood leaders for 2025

August NLC Meeting:

Join us for our regular monthly meeting – Tuesday, August 19th from 6-7 p.m. at E.B. Ball. Shafer Leadership Academy will be joining us to lead a discussion on how to hold “Accountability Conversations”.

MAP President, Heather Williams, is leading a BSU Honors College Colloquium titled “Love Where You Live: The Importance of Neighborhoods.” There is an opportunity to work with the students on a program or project and receive up to $500 in funding to support the work. If your neighborhood is interested in applying, please fill out this form and email it back to Heather at hlwilliams@bsu.edu by 5:00 p.m. on September 22nd.


Thanks to funding provided by CenterPoint Energy Foundation, we have developed a training schedule for our Neighborhood Leadership Council / CenterPoint Scholar meetings that we hope will help build everyone’s leadership capacity. Here’s what you can look forward to over the next 12 months!

Tuesday, April 15 6-7 PM
The Importance of Neighborhoods
Tuesday, October 14 6-7 PM
CenterPoint Scholar Project Pitch
Tuesday, May 20 6-7 PM
Effective Communication – Listening with your Eyes
Tuesday, November 18 6-7 PM
Celebrating Lessons Learned
Tuesday, June 17 6-7 PM
How to Fund your Association’s Work
Tuesday, January 20 6-7 PM
Recruitment
Tuesday, July 15 7-9 PM
Neighborhoods Pool Party @ Tuhey
Tuesday, February 17 6-7 PM
Stakeholder Meet and Greet & CenterPoint Scholar Presentations
Tuesday, August 19 6-7 PM
Conflict Management
IDEA Conference – March 7 9 AM – 3 PM
Tuesday, September 16 6-7 PM
Resident Listening

Come hungry! We always provide dinner at the start of the training.

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