Baldwin Park to Honor NASA Astronaut Kevin Ford with Space-Themed Renovation

Location: Montpelier

From the Montpelier Redevelopment Committee meeting on April 13, 2026

The Baldwin Park renovation project is moving toward playground equipment ordering, with a NASA-themed design honoring Montpelier native Kevin Ford, an astronaut who served on the International Space Station.

The playground will feature NASA colors and a built-in scavenger hunt. The city has submitted a purchase request to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, which is managing the grant, and expects approval this week.

The centerpiece will be the Kevin Ford Space Exploration Pavilion, facing State Road 18, with a mural depicting Ford's journey from growing up in Montpelier to the ISS — including his graduation from Blackford High School, attendance at Notre Dame, Air Force service, and NASA career. The mural will include his mission patches and medals.

The project also includes a perimeter walking path with educational stations about the space program, plus a pavilion and restroom facility with structural, electrical, and HVAC design underway.

City consultant Dave Geyser is working through comments from the National Park Service and state DNR on grading plans. Playground equipment may arrive months before the pavilion is complete, and the city is considering delayed delivery or storage options.

Source: Montpelier Redevelopment Committee meeting video, 4/13/26 (YouTube)