# Council backs a plan to turn South 8th Street into a park for the Children's Museum — but doesn't fund or close anything yet

## What happened
The council passed a resolution supporting a plan to convert South 8th Street, next to the Terre Haute Children's Museum, into a city park — but the resolution itself does not close the street or commit any city money, and the project team said they won't shut down the road until it is fully funded, contingent on the city landing a state arts and culture grant. Kyla Dow, the museum's Director of Donor Relations, told the council the museum sees about 55,000 visitors a year and is landlocked on five sides with no room to expand, which is why the museum has pushed for this project. Councilperson Todd Nation, who sponsored the resolution, told the council it is "a non-binding expression of sentiment" that "does not close 8th Street" and "does not provide any funding" — separate council votes will be needed to actually fund and vacate the street.

## Who it affects
If you're downtown near 8th Street and Wabash Avenue, especially if you visit the Children's Museum, this signals the city's intent to eventually turn part of that road into green space. The plan splits the road: the northern half would become Children's Museum grounds, and the southern half would become a public city park open to everyone downtown.

## The outcome
Passed unanimously; this vote only expresses support for the concept and does not by itself close the street or approve funding.

## Sources
- [Roll call: 7 present, 2 absent, 0:54](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9hy0CgsX4c&t=54)
- [Petitioner: the resolution supports closing 8th Street only once funding is secured, 39:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9hy0CgsX4c&t=2385)
- [Kyla Dow describes the museum's landlocked location and visitor numbers, 41:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9hy0CgsX4c&t=2506)
- [Councilperson Nation explains this is a non-binding resolution, 45:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9hy0CgsX4c&t=2736)
- [Council President describes the north/south split of the site, 51:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9hy0CgsX4c&t=3068)
- [Vote and passage, 52:14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9hy0CgsX4c&t=3134)

*Also known as: South 8th Street park · Children's Museum park · 8th Street resolution · Resolution 7, 2026 · Terre Haute Children's Museum expansion*