Trees, Parks: These Astoria Projects Could Win Caban's Budget Bucks

ASTORIA, QUEENS — New street trees, playground upgrades, school improvements and a weekly farmstand are among the projects that Astorians could choose to fund through a local lawmaker's budgeting program.

This week, City Councilmember Tiffany Cabán unveiled the 22 items that had made the final ballot in her office's participatory budgeting round — an annual program that allows residents to decide how to spend over $1 million on projects within their Council district.

Cabán began soliciting ideas in December, shortly after, shortly after she took office. Neighbors ended up submitting dozens of proposals, which city agencies evaluated based on cost and narrowed down to create the final list.

Cabán's office has broken the finalists into two categories: capital projects consisting of physical infrastructure, which are eligible for $1 million combined; and expense projects for community programming, which are eligible for $50,000.

All residents of District 22 age 11 and older can vote online or in-person (more information on that below), between April 2-10. Here are the finalists:

Capital projects

Garden for Steinway Library

• Location: Steinway Library (21-45 31st St.)
• Cost: $500,000
• Description: A calming outdoor reading and learning space for the newly renovated library, including garden and seating.

Astoria Houses Outdoor Lighting

• Location: NYCHA Astoria Houses
• Cost: $500,000
• Description: "Installation of new lighting in Astoria Houses parking lot to increase visibility and safety."

P.S. 70 Cafeteria Electrical Upgrades

• Location: P.S. 70 (30-44 43rd St.)
• Cost: $500,000
• Description: "Electrical wiring upgrades for PS 70 cafeteria (3 lunchrooms total of approx. 7,800 sq. ft. space) air conditioning."

P.S. 122 Gymnasium Upgrades

• Location: P.S. 122 Mamie Fay (21-21 Ditmars Blvd.)
• Cost: $500,000
• Description: "Electrical wiring upgrades for PS 122 gymnasium (55 x 51) air conditioning."

Initial Funding for Replacing P.S. 171 Auditorium Chairs

• Location: P.S. 171 Peter G. Van Alst (14-14 29th Ave.)
• Cost: $300,000
• Description: "This initial funding would go toward replacing the chairs in the PS 171 auditorium. The full cost of this project is $700,000, so this funding would be a step toward the full project."

P.S. 84 Literacy Garden Renovations

• Location: P.S. 084 Steinway School (22-45 41st St.)
• Cost: $300,000
• Description: "Renovations to literacy garden at PS 84 including well repair, raised beds, new soil and/or mulch, seats for children, and pathway paving."

Technology Upgrades for District 22 Schools

• Location: Five schools: P.S. 122, I.S. 235, I.S. 126, P.S. 171, P.S. 151
• Cost: $275,000
• Description: "New iPads or Chromebooks for students at 5 schools in the district"

Hoyt Playground Upgrades

• Location: Hoyt Playground (1800 Hoyt Ave. North)
• Cost: $250,000
• Description: "Improvements and restorations to Hoyt Playground, including the play surfaces, retaining wall, flagpole, sidewalks, and garden areas."

I.S. 10 Auditorium Sound System Upgrades

• Location: I.S. 10 Horace Greeley (45-11 31st Ave.)
• Cost: $250,000
• Description: "Replace the sound system in the IS 10 auditorium."

Initial Funding for St. Michael's Playground Reconstruction

• Location: St. Michael's Playground (62-5 30th Ave., Woodside)
• Cost: $250,000
• Description: "This initial funding would go toward a full repair and upgrade of playground equipment and facilities. The full cost of this project is $2-3 Million, so this funding would be a step toward the full reconstruction project."

Initial Funding for Ditmars Park Upgrades

• Location: Ditmars Playground (Steinway Street near 23rd Avenue)
• Cost: $250,000
• Description: "This initial funding would go toward addressing drainage concerns at the basketball and handball courts, along with court resurfacing and repainting. The full cost of this project is $700,000, so this funding would be a step toward the full project."

I.S. 126 Computer Lab Electrical Upgrades

• Location: IS126Q Albert Shanker School for Visual & Performing Arts (31-51 21st St.)
• Cost: $200,000
• Description: "Rewire ethernet cables and 110v outlets for 62 computers in the two computer labs at IS 126."

Street Tree Planting

• Location: throughout district; sites to be determined
• Cost: $150,000
• Description: "Street tree planting throughout the district. Specific locations yet to be determined."

Technology Upgrades for District 22 Libraries

• Location: Astoria Library and Steinway Library
• Cost: $125,000
• Description: "Technology upgrades for all district libraries. Majority of the funding will go toward tech upgrades at Astoria Library, with remaining funds going toward Steinway Library."

Expense projects

"Basics of Cooking" series

• Location: Variety Boys & Girls Club (21-12 30th Rd.)
• Cost: $20,000
• Description: "A fun, interactive, and educational series of weekend cooking classes open to all middle school aged students in the community. "

Pop-Up Play Program

• Location: Unspecified
• Cost: $20,000
• Description: "A series of 3 pop-ups in 8-10 public spaces that encourage young people to engage in creative, self-directed play. Hosted by Play:Ground NYC."

Astoria's First Gender Justice Center

• Location: Unspecified
• Cost: $20,000
• Description: "A public community space catering to women, girls, and non-binary people that will serve as a safe organizing hub for the community to gather, share and learn. The center will host regular programming organizing, self-defense, healing justice, and financial literacy. Hosted by Malikah."

Senior Fitness Programming

• Location: Astoria Heights Playground, Gorman Playground
• Cost: $10,000
• Description: "A 6-week series of yoga and fitness walking classes for community members aged 60+. These classes will take place twice a week during the Fall and Spring at Astoria Heights Playground and Gorman Playground. Hosted by City Parks Foundation."

Community Film-Making Workshops

• Location: District 22 schools, community centers
• Cost: $10,000
• Description: "Filmmaking workshops at District 22 schools and community centers to teach filmmaking skills and assist community members in preparation for a future short film competition. Hosted by Astoria Film Festival"

Woodworking classes

• Location: District 22 parks
• Cost: $10,000
• Description: "A series of woodworking classes at parks in and around District 22, teaching attendees to build home flower boxes and community composting bins. Hosted by Astoria Woodworkers Collective."

Weekly farm stand

• Location: 31st Ave. Open Street, Astoria Heights Playground
• Cost: $10,000
• Description: "A weekly farm stand that will run from April - November and will offer sliding scale pricing and accept SNAP benefits. The farm stand will be located on the 31st Ave. Open Street during the Fall season, and will expand to the area around Astoria Heights Playground for the Spring season. Hosted by The Connected Chef."

Pop-up Arts Classes

• Location: Astoria parks, playgrounds
• Cost: $5,000
• Description: "A 4-6 week series of free pop-up art, music, and/or theater classes at local Astoria Parks/Playgrounds. Hosted by Art House Astoria."

To cast an in-person, paper ballot, residents can visit Cabán's district office at 30-83 31st St. between 10 a.m.-6 p.m. There will also be six pop-up locations starting Saturday, at spots like Athens Playground and the 31st Avenue Open Street.

Cabán is among 14 Council members running a participatory budgeting round this year — the program's 12th year in existence (though it was paused in 2020 during the pandemic). Fellow Western Queens Councilmember Julie Won is not participating.