Be My Neighbor Day returns June 10 to downtown Muncie

Two little girls hold signs saying why they love Muncie nexted to a graphic with information on Be My Neighbor Day

Welcome back, Neighbors!

MUNCIE – Won’t you be our neighbor?

Ball State PBS’s Be My Neighbor Day is returning to downtown Muncie!

Join Daniel Tiger for an afternoon of free fun 1-4 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Canan Commons. The event will also include more than 20 booths (neighbors) offering hands-on activities – from sunflower planting to rock painting to puppet making – for the whole family.

This will be the first in-person Be My Neighbor Day since 2019 (the fifth anniversary) and the start of the pandemic (in 2020).

“We are so excited to bring Be My Neighbor Day back as an in-person event this summer,” said Dr. Phil Hoffman, General Manager of Ball State PBS. “We have really missed seeing all of our neighbors together, enjoying a beautiful day in the neighborhood!”

Highlights:

  • Meet Daniel Tiger!
  • Dance along to music by the Atomic Sharks!
  • Visit our great neighbors from arts organizations, community centers and other awesome non-profit groups!
  • Enjoy performances by Muncie Ballet and Youth Symphony Orchestra, too!
  • Pick up your very own Be My Neighbor Day tote bag packed with goodies!

Based on the animated PBS KIDS show “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” and with a nod to “Mister Rogers Neighborhood,” this event focuses on the importance of being neighborly.

Be My Neighbor Day is presented by Ball State PBS, Midas, and the Ball State Office of Community Engagement, with major support from Wilhoite Family Dental, Lifestream Services, The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inspire Academy, and Heart of Indiana United Way.

For more information, go to www.ballstatepbs.org.

Past Event: Community ESL Classes

screen cap of esl flier

Ball State’s Intensive English Institute is working with Jacqueline Hanoman at the Ross Community Center to offer FREE ESL classes to the community!

October 5, 2021 to December 17, 2021
Ross Community Center
1110 W. 10th Street

Class size is limited to 8 students for each class.
Please register before October 5, 2021
by calling: 765.747.4741

For more information, check out the flier in English | Arabic | Chinese | Spanish

Past Event: Ribbon Cutting at Halteman Park

Photo of park sign

(Photo provided with Press Release)

September 12, 2021

For immediate release

What: Playground/Pavilion/Splash Pad Ribbon Cutting

When: September 18th @ 11:00.

Who: HVNA, City of Muncie. All are welcome

Ribbon Cutting for Playground/Pavilion/Splashpad at Halteman Park. Come See the New Improvements

After years of challenges, the private Halteman Swim Club closed its doors in 2017 and was sold shortly after at the county tax sale. The property became abandoned, blighted, dangerous, and an overall eyesore upon the community.

Via an incredible public/private partnership between the Halteman Village Neighborhood Association (HVNA), the City of Muncie, the Muncie Parks Department, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s (IHCDA) CreatINg Places program, and many individual and local Foundation’s, all are ready to celebrate a soft opening of the park specifically highlighting the new playground, pavilion and splash pad.

“Without the city, and the Parks Departments commitment to our efforts, this park would not be a reality. We want to thank Mayor Ridenour specifically for his commitment to this project, for without his support and leadership we know we wouldn’t be here today,” state J.P. Hall, president of HVNA.

HVNA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization representing property owners and current residents of Halteman Village, Nor-Hall, Norwood and Vienna Woods neighborhoods within the city of Muncie. HVNA’s efforts are primarily focused on development and revitalization efforts to improve the quality of life/place for our residents and the Muncie community as a whole.

“This project just shows what is possible when a group comes together, plans, makes partnerships, then executes,” said Brad Marshall, HVNA Treasurer.

“The money we privately raised shows that people want these place-based improvements and are willing to put their hard-earned money towards making their neighborhoods better,” stated Brad Polk, VP of HVNA and City Council member.

Starting in the fall of 2020, after a meaningful planning partnership with the Parks and Open Spaces Studio in the Landscape Architecture Department at BSU, HVNA kicked off its fundraising campaign by partnering with the State of Indiana, via the IHCDA’s CreatINg Places program, to fundraise for a new playground. This crowdfunding campaign ultimately netted close to $82,000 of private funds which were matched by the state with an additional $30,000.

An incredibly generous grant from the Sherman and Marjorie Zeigler Foundation allowed for the construction of a pavilion at the Park that will allow for events, gathering space, and a shaded spot for all to enjoy. Lisa Goodpaster, long time Secretary of HVNA believes the pavilion, in addition to the splash pad and bathrooms the City is developing, make this park a place where a people can now spend an afternoon. “The park has come so far in just a few months, and when all is complete, will be a huge amenity for the city,” Goodpaster noted.

The city’s commitment of a splash pad (completed), bathrooms, a walking/jogging trail, improved basketball court, and pickleball courts (completion by fall21/spring22) will round out this park and make it an incredible destination for all of Muncie.

See Halteman.org for a complete list of supporters.

Media contact
J.P. Hall, President – HVNA, (574)309-4299
Brad Marshall, Treasurer – HVNA, (765)744-9332

VIDEO: Sanglim Yoo: Discovering New Ways to Improve Cities

Working with the FDA’s Farmers Food Box program and Purdue Extension during the pandemic, CERES Affiliated Faculty Joshua Gruver, Associate Professor of Environment, Geology, and Natural Resources, is helping Hoosiers in need by providing free food sourced from Indiana diary producers. Dr. Gruver and the Muncie Food Hub have been taking milk that would have been dumped and giving it away for free. Watch Josh’s interview on Fox 59.

 

VIDEO: Sanglim Yoo: Discovering New Ways to Improve Cities

Video screen shot

Ball State University Alumni magazine recapped the recent immersive learning work of CERES Affiliated Faculty Sanglim Yoo, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning.  Funded by Provost Immersive Learning grants, Dr. Yoo has led student teams in analyzing the potential of brownfields in Delaware and Grant Counties as sites for solar farms and in assessing and improving economic sustainability efforts in Muncie.  These projects also allow students to improve their skills in using socioeconomic and demographic data and the geographic information system (GIS) mapping tool.  Read more on the BSU Alumni Magazine’s website!