Help save Tuhey Park from development

Help save Tuhey Park from development

Started
October 21, 2020
Petition to
Mayor Dan Ridenour and 2 others
Signatures: 1,634Next Goal: 2,500
Support now

Why this petition matters

Started by Friends of Tuhey

Tuhey Park is a community resource. It may live in the Riverside-Normal City neighborhood, but it belongs to the entire City of Muncie. It is a beautiful greenspace – a place to play, to gather, to make memories.

We will fight to save our park and we hope you will join us to stop the City of Muncie from giving Tuhey Park over to the YMCA to build a gym and parking lot. 

Why are parks important?
The City of Muncie’s most recent Five Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan described the many benefits of public parks and the Delaware County website also includes additional information on the health and economic benefits of parks.

Quality of Life Benefits

  • Makes neighborhoods more attractive places to live
  • Strengthens community pride
  • Improves physical health with opportunities for exercise and recreation
  • Improves mental health
  • Can reduce violence and crime

Economic Benefits

  • Attracts and retains businesses
  • Attracts home buyers (when parks are within 2000 feet of the home)
  • Attracts retirees
  • Reduced costs for public services
  • Provides “free” natural services like flood control & filtration of pollutants
  • Higher assessments, thus higher property tax revenue for local government (when parks are within 2000 feet of the home)
  • Increased tourism

Environmental Benefits

  • Offer natural environmental protection
  • Improved water quality – absorbs storm runoff, reduces runoff and filters out sediment, nutrients, pathogens, pesticides, metals and other contaminants
  • Reduce air pollution – natural air filters
  • Moderates temperatures – reduces heat island effects
  • Energy conservation (within the parks these are applicable for cabins and offices)
  • Tree cover can reduce building energy use in the summer by providing shade
  • Trees also contribute to reduced winter energy use by providing a wind block
  • Habitat
  • Increased natural areas provide for habitat diversity
    Contributes to connecting natural areas which provide for healthier wildlife

According to the 2012 U.S. Census population estimates, Muncie is the 9th largest second class city in Indiana. Muncie spends less on its park system and employs one of the lowest amounts of full time employees than all other second class cities benchmarked. While Muncie provides an average number of parks, the amount of acres dedicated to parkland in the City is the least amount offered per resident.

Overall, the total number of “close to home” recreational space (community, neighborhood, and mini park facilities) available to Muncie residents is about 3.4 acres per 1000 persons, which is well below the National Recreation and Park Association’s recommended level of service of 6.25-10.5 acres per 1000 persons. This is primarily due to a lack of community park space.

Why would the City of Muncie want to reduce its parkland further by turning it over to a private developer?

For more information about this project, please visit savetuhey.org. 

Support now
Signatures: 1,634Next Goal: 2,500
Support now
Share this petition in person or use the QR code for your own material.Download QR Code

Decision Makers

  • Mayor Dan Ridenour
  • Muncie City Council
  • Muncie Parks and Recreation Board