New Ball State, Muncie link 'like Carmel'

MUNCIE – A new link between Ball State University and Muncie — the reconstruction of Martin Street from University Avenue to White River Boulevard — was completed just in time for fall semester.

"The goal is connectivity," says Marta Moody, director of the city-county plan commission. "We are slowly building that connectivity."

The reconstruction included new pavement, decorative/energy efficient street lamps with brackets for banners, a wide sidewalk on one side and landscaping.

It reminds BSU student Cassidy Smith of her hometown.

"It kind of reminds me of Carmel a little bit," she said. "I like it. I like Carmel; I thought it was beautiful and I like what they're going for here. The flowers look really nice and it adds some charm."

The project links Ball State to the White River Greenway. The reconstruction added a new cross walk at Martin and White River Boulevard. From there, it's just a few steps down the sidewalk to a trail head for the greenway.

"Connecting Ball State to the trail system helps a lot," said Hugh Smith, principal planner at the plan commission. "The White River Greenway leads toward the downtown. And it can go both ways. The students and other people living in that area can come south on Martin to the trail. And trail travelers might use Martin to go toward Ball State. You never know. It's nice to have regular paths people can use easily by foot or bicycle."

"I didn't know that," said Ball State graduate student Mitch Wangsgard as he walked down the new sidewalk on Wednesday. "I didn't know what their whole idea was."

Smith has used the greenway, but Wangsgard says he's too busy studying.

BSU student Demie Johnson, who walked down Martin on Wednesday afternoon, said she didn't even know the White River Greenway existed.

"I do see potential in not making so much about Ball State," the student from Michigan City told The Star Press. "Muncie does have potential. Making it more about Muncie and Ball State being ... a whole, there is potential there."

Of the new street, she said: "I think it's nice. I think our streets were in really bad shape and I think it looks a lot better. It would be nice to get it on a lot of other streets here. I know it's costly but it looks great and is a lot easier to walk or ride your bike and not trip in a pothole."

Ball State police Cpl. Craig Hodson dodged potholes on Dill Street while jogging from campus to get to the trail one recent morning.

"I didn't know it was there," he said of the new sidewalk on Martin. "It's better than the old junky sidewalks."

Steven Reid, who does cleaning work in The Village commercial district near the Ball State campus, said of the reconstruction: "It will help out a lot." He was used to walking in the street because of a lack of sidewalks in the neighborhood.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is expected to open bids later this year for another BSU/Muncie "connectivity" project — the reconstruction of Neely Avenue between New York and Wheeling avenues.

The long-delayed project, estimated to cost $1.7 million several years ago, will include a landscaped median, bicycle lanes, new sidewalks and storm drainage improvements.

When Ball State was seeking public comment on a new campus master plan in 2013, Chris Harrison, a virtual worlds designer at the university, told The Star Press BSU is seen by some residents as an Ivory Tower.

He said the campus needs a "visual connection" to downtown.

If students can just walk or bike a few blocks form campus down Neely to Minnetrista, a Ball family legacy, they will be within eyesight of downtown, he noted.

Contact Seth Slabaugh at (765) 213-5834.