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Muncie City Council wants to add rules on naming public spaces

By Stephanie Wiechmann, IPR News | Published on in Community, Government, Local News
McCullough Park's Lafferty Field became Gainbridge Field in August. (Photo: Stephanie Wiechmann)

The Muncie City Council wants to add a formal process for naming and renaming public spaces in the city.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

Last month, the baseball diamond at McCullough Park received a $1.5 million renovation and a new name – Gainbridge Field.  But since a mayoral act in 1995, it was officially known as Lafferty Field, named after longtime local teacher and coach, Francis Lafferty.

Many residents complained, even though Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour’s office says it asked and received permission from the Lafferty family for the renaming.  And that could be done without anyone else’s approval, because there aren’t any rules for when or how Muncie public spaces get names.

Now the city council wants to add a process for buildings, parks, recreation spaces, statues, and monuments.  Under the proposal, a naming request would need written justification and to be considered at a public forum.  Then, it would require city council approval.  If the facility is a park or sits within a park, the Muncie Parks and Recreation Board would also need to give its approval.

The ordinance passed its introduction unanimously this week.  It will be discussed during the council’s October 3 meeting.

CLARIFICATION:  This story has been updated to reflect that the Ridenour administration asked the Lafferty family’s permission to rename the ball park at McCullough Park.  The mayor’s office says it would not have moved forward with the renaming without permission.