By Jason Donati—
MUNCIE, IN – As the Muncie Action Plan (MAP) closes out the year, we would like to share MAP’s efforts to improve quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County as we approach our Annual Community Meeting on Wednesday, January 31st at 6:00 p.m. The public is invited to join MAP at Minnetrista’s Indiana Room to hear from each of our four task forces as they share the work completed during 2023. This is the fourth of four reports from our task force leaders.
Task Force 4 is tasked with increasing investments in Muncie’s parks and improve the quality of place along corridors, parks, and city neighborhoods.
Everyone loves parks, green spaces, trails, playgrounds, and exploring the White River. We’ve seen significant improvements to these spaces in recent years. The Cardinal Greenway and the Muncie Sanitary District have restored and revitalized to historic bridges in Muncie to connect trails across the White River and we are seeing more residents and visitors utilize our parks and trails more than ever before.
MAP’s been a driving supporter of some of these efforts and partnered with the City of Muncie to secure funding to renovate and re-open Tuhey pool when it was closed. MAP also supported and encouraged the hiring of a program director for the Muncie Parks Department to develop and manage youth activities in our parks. Muncie parks is now full of great opportunities for youth and families, and they’ve also successfully facilitated a great summer youth employment program and soon to be year-round employment internship program. MAP also supported Muncie’s designation as a Bicycle-Friendly community and helped develop the 2023 Climate Action Plan. The Resilient Muncie Climate Action Plan was adopted and unanimously passed by Muncie City Council in August of 2023.
Muncie residents recently created a new plan for our community that focuses on three important PLACES. MAP’s Task Force 4 is charged with continuing to improve and support our city’s Parks and Connective Corridors. MAP will work with community partners to create a “Muncie Conservation Corps” for youth and young adults that will help with various greenspace and streetscape needs. It will support streetscape improvements like tree plantings, additional streetlights, and well-maintained sidewalks. MAP also has plans to support Muncie’s Parks Department’s “Friends of City Parks” fund to help with future park improvements that all members of our community can enjoy.
Our parks, open spaces, and river are where we play – MAP’s Task Force 4 will work to improve our outdoor environment so that it is a welcoming, safe place for everyone to enjoy.
Please visit muncieactionplan.net to learn more about our community’s plan and how you can help us build a brighter future for our city and county.
