Here's Where $1 Million Could Be Spent In Forest Hills, Rego Park

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Residents in Central Queens are picking out their favorite project prospectives in their neighborhoods this week, voting among new tree pits for Forest Hills, a fitness area at Yellowstone Park, and other ideas.

Lynn Schulman, Council Member for District 29, opened the Participatory Budgeting process for residents in Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Rego Park, and Richmond Hill on Saturday, and residents will have until Sunday, April 2nd, to cast their votes.

Residents must live in District 29 and be 11 years of age or older to be eligible to vote.

Citywide, New Yorkers can vote online or in person all week to decide how nearly $30 million in capital funding will be spent in the Fiscal Year 2024 city budget. Funding will go towards improving neighborhood schools, parks, libraries, and local infrastructure.

“Participatory Budgeting is a great opportunity for residents of District 29 to have a voice in how to spend $1 million dollars in capital funding to support projects in our community,” said Schulman.

Voters who wish to cast their ballots in person can head to North Forest Park Library on March 29 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Forest Hills Green Market on April 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Commonpoint Queens on April 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Each voter can select up to three of the ideas:

1. New Tree Pits on Yellowstone Boulevard

• Yellowstone Boulevard, between Austin and Burns Streets
• $101,000
• Add new tree pits with trees
  

• Metropolitan Avenue, between Union Turnpike and Myrtle Avenue
• $101,000
• Add new tree pits with trees
  
  

• 106-21 68th Avenue
• $450,000
• Create an adult fitness area to include pull-ups, sit-ups, and calisthenics
  
  

• 65-10 Dierterle Crescent
• $150,000 per bathroom
• Install safe, sanitary, and age-appropriate accessibility to washrooms in school; partitions and accessible stalls
  
  

• 62-10 108th Street
• $8,000 per water fountain
• Replace old water fountains with new water bottle refilling stations