After six months of work with the community, Muncie Action Plan is moving ahead, stepping into its implementation phase.
The Muncie Action Plan is presenting their work to the Muncie City Council tonight, where proposals from Muncie residents will be discussed and voted on for a resolution to endorse them.
Muncie Action Plan's main purpose is to gather input from Muncie residents to help the community in its development. The project works with grants from the United States Department of Housing and Development and the Ball Brothers Foundation, according to a Ball State Daily News article.
Ginny Nilles, co-chair of the Muncie Action Plan, said several of the 47 initiatives proposed by Muncie residents will be started in September, some projects lasting longer than others.
"It depends on what kind of projects they are," she said. "One project, for example, is to have the public pools re-opened, another is about fixing sidewalks. So there are short term and long term goals."
Nilles said she expects most of the members to support the plan when the proposals are presented to the city council. Several of the city council members were involved in the meetings throughout the six month process.
"They do not have to approve [the proposals], but we hope they embrace them and give their blessings," she said. "This was a grassroots movement that has had involvement from the community and several of the elected officials. This is a very hopeful thing for our community."
The Muncie Action Plan held 21 meetings in six months, the largest being in December. In their first meeting they asked residents what they wanted to see changed or added to their city. Nilles said the organization wrote what 2,000 residents told them. Residents were later called to check that their proposals were approved.
"It was a constant of bringing large groups and small groups of people together," she said. "When we had our first meetings in December, we met with lots of young people, who have given their support and thoughts as well."
City Council member Brad Polk said he had attended several of the meetings in different stages of the Muncie Action Plan and was satisfied with the research that had been done to communicate with residents.
Although there will be grants for some proposals, Polk said most of them do not need any money to be done.
"It's mainly people taking pride in the community," he said. "What MAP means, from talking with committee members, is looking at intriguing people to come to Muncie the right way. Some things are from what the people can do and implement in taking care and pride in their neighborhood."
Polk said the City Council already saw what the plan will look like and expects other council members to support it.
"We were given the plan and the presentation a month ago," he said. "It is going to be good to move forward with the plan. It'll be something to look at and get behind, hopefully everyone does."
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