MUNCIE, Ind. – As the city grows, downtown Muncie and Ball State struggle to connect with one another, but the gap is slowly being filled.
With a new performing arts center and hotel being built in the village, one key piece seems to be missing to connect the two parts of town.
That key? A road meant to bridge the gap between Ball State and downtown Muncie, University Avenue.
"They want to help make an arts-type connection between the Ball State campus and downtown Muncie. It benefits us as a city of Muncie if it brings more Ball State students, Ball State faculty, and others who might be visiting Ball State by following that trail," Mayor Dan Ridenour said.
Although the road wouldn’t change, the parking would, with proposed ordinance 29-25, parking on University completely from Wheeling to Dicks Street, and on the south side of Dicks Street to Reserve would be completely removed. Ridenour believes this would be a positive change, as not many people utilize the street for parking.
"Just keep in mind that very few people are parking. I mean, it's less than three a day and most of those are out-of-county plates,” Ridenour said. “So I think they're students and the landlords are required by ordinance to have the parking behind."
With the removal of parking areas on the street, Ball State is working closely with Ridenour to set up bike lanes on the street that ensure the safety and protection of bikers to go downtown.
For Ball State, passing this ordinance means completing their promise to the $35 million Lilly Endowment and the $1 million allocation to improving the physical connection between the village and downtown Muncie.
Chris Palladino, Director of Real Estate Services and the Real Estate Development Program at Ball State, believes that the new proposed plan but if this ordinance doesn't pass, Chris Palladino, Director of Real Estate Services and the Real Estate Development Program at Ball State, believes this will strengthen the communities' connection.
“Prior plans have emphasized the importance of providing a stronger physical connection between the Ball State campus and downtown Muncie. It is less than 1.5 miles from the scramble light to the heart of downtown Muncie, but there may not be an obvious route for a pedestrian or cyclist to make this trip. A safer route between campus and downtown will encourage more of the Ball State community to check out events downtown and support downtown businesses. With the City making a recent investment into new street paving and sidewalk improvements along University Avenue, we believe upgrading this street to a “complete street” that makes the street safer for bicyclists and pedestrians is important.”
With the motion being tabled at the October 6th City Council meeting, the ordinance now waits to see if it will pass. If the ordinance fails to be approved, Ball State will have to find a new way to connect the two communities to keep its $1 million endowment from the Lilly Foundation.
“If Ordinance 29-25 does not pass, Ball State will work with the city and other stakeholders on other ways to improve connectivity. We may also need to seek flexibility from the Lilly Endowment about alternate ways to use that component of the grant within the village project,” Palladino stated.
Ball State will continue to revitalize the village, with its plan and timeline on www.bsu.edu/thevillage.
Contact Max Robson with comments at maxwell.robson@bsu.edu.
