Bike Paths? Subway Cleanup? Participatory Budgeting Ideas Open For Submission

BROOKLYN, NY — What do you think could be improved in the neighborhood?

City Councilman Brad Lander is asking that question as "participatory budgeting season" begins across the city. The process allows people in communities to submit ideas for projects that could use some funding.

Chosen projects are put on a ballot, and people in the area can vote on which projects they think should get the money. Anyone as young as 11 or in the sixth grade can vote as long as they live in the district. Winning projects are funded until money runs out.

In Lander's district, which includes Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace and Kensington, $1.5 million is up for grabs for capital projects and $50,000 for "expense" projects, which usually go to organizations that need extra cash.

On Tuesday night, Lander kicked off participatory budgeting season with a workshop at the Park Slope Library, where people from the district came and shared some of their ideas.

Those ideas included adding floodlights, creating more bike paths in Prospect Park, cleaning up subway stations, adding countdown clocks outside stops, planting more trees and more.

His office is hosting another participatory budgeting session on Tuesday, October 3, at PS 230 in Kensington.

To learn more about the participatory budgeting process, or to submit an idea of your own online, click here.

Photos by Marc Torrence, Patch Staff