MUNCIE, Ind. — At the Muncie Parks Board meeting this week, held February 17, it was announced that grants and sponsors for summer parks programs are being sought after due to limited funding. A sheet of paper with the following message was handed out to attendees:

“Due to budget constraints we are actively looking for grants and sponsors for our summer programs. Shannon, Carl, and Mark met with Ball Foundation last week for potential funding to help with summer sports programming. We will not know if we will receive funding or not receive funding from Ball Foundation until the middle of May. Also, soccer and flag football have been removed from our potential programs list due to budget constraints. We have informed a representative from both programs.”

Carl Malone, Superintendent of the Parks Department, at the meeting spoke at the podium and reiterated the conversation he had the week prior with members of Ball Foundation on potential funding. Parks board member Shannon Powers also responded “there are some other grants that we’re going to be submitting, for recreation specifically, to help with the budget constraints.”

Erin Craig, Vice President of Southside Neighborhood Association, worries what the announcement means for the upcoming Gus Macker tournament being held on July 18 & 19. In the most recent 5-year plan for the Parks department, $50,000 each year was allocated for the possibility of the basketball tournament returning. Craig told the Post-Democrat:

“Obviously I was hoping to have the financial support from the city. We are expecting to have roughly 10,000 guests including participants and spectators plus staff. That comes with a projected $3 million to $5 million economic injection to local businesses. Gus Macker also comes with a 3-year contract with a 1-year out clause, meaning if our first year is successful for both parties and both parties agree, it will be back again for a minimum 2 more years with the option to continue again after the third year.”

It was announced in December that the tournament would be returning to Muncie for the first time in 15 years. According to the press release by Southside Neighborhood Association, Erin Craig had reached out to Gus Macker leadership and a plan had come into place prior to the press release late last year. Craig still feels confident that Gus Macker can be achieved this year, and she believes that the economic boost can help fund summer programs in future years.