Timeline: Trace the History of the "Tot-Spot" Project from Beginning to End 

Ball State helps toddlers in Muncie

by Erin Edwards

MUNCIE, Ind.- The partnership between Ball State University and the Muncie community continued with the collaboration of the College of Architecture and the Muncie Children's Museum.

CAP students designed and are helping renovate the museum.

Mary Slafkosky, executive director of Muncie Children’s Museum, said she understands the importance of the immersive learning opportunities Ball State offers.

“We love having Ball State in our backyard. The students have been just beyond wonderful to work with and have just been a great partner,” she said. “They have a fresh perspective and a fresh outlook and that’s what’s fun.”


CAP along with the Muncie Children’s Museum have brought new, improved attractions for toddlers, Slafkosky said.  

The Tot Spot at the museum was in dire need of renovation, she said.  After being in business for 15 years at its North High Street location, nothing in the Tot Spot had been updated. 

Slafkosky said she realizes that repairs, changes and renovations are inevitable.

“It’s never a question if something is going to break. It’s when,” she said.

The Muncie Children’s Museum has been in operation since 1977.  The museum hosts children from infants through school-aged.  The school-aged children’s play-area has seen many updates since the beginning. The Tot Spot however, had seen better days before the CAP students got involved.

“Everyone says that a fresh coat of paint and everything … looks brand-new, but this just looks nothing like what was here. And not that what we had was wrong or bad, but it’s just so nice to have something that is current,” Slafkosky said.

Pam Harwood, associate professor of architecture, and a group of architecture students have been working on updating the Tot Spot since the Spring Semester in 2009. As the project developed more students got involved. 

Harwood said is working with about 15 students each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The second phase of the Tot Spot will be concluded today.

Through the summer and into the fall, the students will start and finish the third and final stage.  If everything goes as smoothly as planned, toddlers will be able to enjoy their new tot spot by the end of 2011.

To view a map of what the completely renovated Tot-Spot will look like when it is complete follow this link:
http://mcmarchitectproject.weebly.com/explore.html