The Muncie Board of Public Works and Safety voted to approve a street closure application from Foreverlasting Incorporated for a community basketball tournament planned at Hicken Park in July.

Zion Strong, CEO of Foreverlasting Incorporated Inc., told the board the event will coincide with the opening of a park renovation the group is doing with Muncie Parks. "We're hosting an event July over at Hicken Park," Strong said, and described plans to use barricades and restrict traffic "so nobody will get hurt." He estimated attendance at "3 to 500 people."

Board member Linda raised concerns because the requested closure would affect a through street and asked where attendees would park. Strong said organizers planned to use parking near the park and to post caution tape and barricades. Strong also said Foreverlasting is "hiring security" and has been "talking to Robert Skaff in the Legacy Life group, for security," and was contacting police from around the county to provide presence at the event.

Board members asked about hours; Strong said the closure would run during daytime hours and that the street would be open between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. each day. The board chair noted the police chief had raised a staffing concern; organizers acknowledged they would supply private security. The board conditioned nothing on the vote but required proof of liability insurance; Lacey, a staff member, told the organizer to send the insurance certificate to parks and to the board clerk by email.

A motion to approve the street-closure application for the event passed by voice vote. The clerk will have documents ready for signature after the meeting.