Ball State gives land to Muncie for new neighborhood park

Ball State University and Muncie officials say they’ll create a neighborhood park with land surrounding a former school building that’s now Ball State-owned. IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

In 2016, Ball State bought the former Anthony Administration Building from Muncie Community Schools, renaming it the Oakwood Building after its street location.  Now, the university is letting the city of Muncie use some of the 10 acres of land around that building for a neighborhood park.

In a joint statement, the deal says the city will oversee development and maintenance of the park.

The land backs onto Northside Middle School, including Northside’s track and baseball fields. There’s already several swings and a plastic slide on one side of the building.

Ball State also owns Northside Middle School, and leases it to the school district it now has a partnership to help run.

No financial details about the agreement have been disclosed.   Recent Muncie Parks and Recreation Board meetings have talked about using existing city funds to finish a new skate park on the city’s west side and fixing and combating vandalism to restrooms in other city parks.

In announcing the agreement, Ball State president Geoffrey Mearns said “The project is an extension of our mission to serve our friends and neighbors in the communities we call home. We are grateful to partner once again with the City of Muncie and to support the Anthony-Northside Neighborhood’s vision for a park for all people to enjoy.”

The statement says the date of the park’s official opening hasn’t yet been scheduled.

Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host.  Contact her at [email protected].