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Muncie board backs Hultman Village neighborhood’s Phase 4 park work
Summary
The Muncie Park and Recreation Board voted Feb. 17 to allow the Hultman Village Neighborhood Association to proceed with Phase 4 of its neighborhood park project, following a presentation on seven years of fundraising and volunteer improvements.
JP Hall, president of the Hultman Village Neighborhood Association, told the Muncie Park and Recreation Board on Feb. 17 that neighborhood volunteers have spent seven years converting a former pool site into a public city park and have raised private and public funds for improvements. "We've secured close to $200,000 of private money," Hall said, adding that that private fundraising helped leverage roughly $300,000 in public monies.
The board recorded support for the neighborhood to proceed with Phase 4 work after Hall and fellow board member Pete Gitman described recent upgrades and a final public art project developed in collaboration with Ball State architecture students. "We're really excited," Hall said, noting the group intends to fund most work through volunteers and donations and will coordinate access and work through parks staff. The presenters asked only for the board’s blessing to continue and promised a post-completion update.
Nut graf: The neighborhood-led project transformed a formerly blighted property into a city park with playgrounds, a trail, benches and pickleball courts. At the meeting Hall gave a concise account of the multi-phase effort — including two crowdfunding campaigns partnered with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority — and sought the board’s formal support to finish the last phase of site and building improvements.
Board action and context: After discussion, a board member moved to record the board’s approval for the neighborhood association to move forward with Phase 4 and to continue working with parks staff; another member seconded the motion and the board approved it by voice vote. The board chair invited the neighborhood group to coordinate access with parks staff for interior building work and to return with an update after Phase 4 is finished.
What’s next: The neighborhood will work with Parks staff to finalize access for volunteer work and building upgrades and will notify the board when Phase 4 is complete. Hall said the project will rely mainly on donated labor and locally raised funds; if fundraising gaps appear, the group will seek additional donations.
