Council Introduces Parking Restrictions Opposed by Riverside-Normal City Neighborhood Association
9.11.2025 / News / munciepostdemocrat.com
MUNCIE, Ind. — The month of September has been focused on the annual budget for Muncie, impacted by Indiana Senate Bill 1, and yet September’s council meeting had an agenda that was packed. Along party lines, an ordinance eliminating parking along University Avenue, from Reserve St. to Dicks St. and Wheeling Ave to Reserve St., was introduced 5-4.
Beth Messner from the Riverside-Normal City Neighborhood Association spoke in opposition and said that it seemed unclear what the motivation for the ordinance was. Council-member Dale Basham, who sponsored the ordinance, was asked what he knew about who was involved in writing the ordinance, at which point Basham responded “I came to City Hall and signed it.”
Messner also brought up a bike lane proposal from late 2023, where most community members at the event were against the $1.4 million dollar project by Flatland Resources connecting Ball State campus and the Downtown by a bike trail.
- Ord. 26-25 ~ Introduced 9-0
- Ord. 27-25 ~ Introduced 9-0
- Ord. 28-25 ~ Rules suspended, Adopted unanimously
- Ord. 29-25 ~ Introduced 5-4
- Ord. 30-25 ~ Amended, introduced 9-0
- Ord. 31-25 ~ Amended, introduced 9-0
- Ord. 32-25 ~ Introduced 9-0
- Res. 16-25 ~ Withdrawn, will be filed next meeting
Mayor Ridenour then answered at the podium that there has been a longtime plan to connect Ball State with Muncie’s Downtown, thirty years in the making according to him. While the neighborhood association stands “vehemently opposed” according to Messner, Ridenour emphasized the letter of support by Ball State University.
Afterwards in a surprising move, Republican Dale Basham asked to have Res. 16-25 delayed for the next meeting in October. The resolution would add an additional $11.5 million to replace Fire Station 5, on top of another $8 million added early last year. Additionally, Ordinance 28-25 was moved to adoption to have speed limits changed from 30 to 25 in multiple streets.