Help Decide Where $1.5 M Could Go In Park Slope: Climate, Libraries

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — A $1.5 million pot of money is going toward neighborhood projects in and around Park Slope — and locals can vote on which get the green light.

The voting process known as participatory budgeting runs until Sunday in the City Council's District 39.

A newsletter from Council Member Shanana Hanif sums up the projects' focus.

“This year Participatory Budgeting has a unique focus on Climate Justice, with a ballot full of projects to make our communities healthier, greener, and more resilient," it states.

"These proposals were proposed and have been vetted by community members and now it’s your turn to decide which projects will be funded!"

Hanif's district includes Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Kensington, Borough Park, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope and Columbia Waterfront.

People can cast up to three votes each for infrastructure projects and non-profit projects, either in-person or online.

In-person voting can be done at the following locations and times.

Tuesday, March 28

• Windsor Terrace Library: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Carroll Gardens Library: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Council Member Hanif’s Office: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Wednesday, March 29

• Council Member Hanif’s Office: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 30

• Windsor Terrace Library: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Pacific Library: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Council Member Hanif’s Office: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 1

• Albemarle Playground Puppet Show + Voting: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Pacific Library 12 p.m.- 2 p.m.
• Carroll Library: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Park Slope: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sunday, April 2

• Old Stone House: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Online voting can be done here.

A full list of projects can be found here or below.

Infrastructure Projects

Storytelling Garden at Pacific Library
$250,000
25 Fourth Avenue at Pacific Street
Build an ADA accessible library garden with native plantings with community input for design.

Laptops for Libraries
$56,000
Carroll Gardens, Park Slope and Windsor Terrace
10 laptops for each of the three library branches for expanded programming for youth and adults.

Grow the PS 131 Garden Room
$175,000
4305 Fort Hamilton Parkway
Repair the garden room's sink, add a second hydroponic lab, and new equipment for scientific learning for students.

Rehabilitate the Bandshell Lawn
$250,000
Prospect Park Bandshell
Restore the lawn surrounding the Bandshell with new drainage, irrigation, topsoil and grass for community use year-round.

Family Resource Center at PS 124
$500,000
515 4th Avenue
Create a resource center to serve students and their families with job application help, enrichment for non-school age children, and adult literacy.

Restore Walking Paths at Willink
$500,000
Willink Plaza, Prospect Park
Improve old paths between the comfort station and the Children's Corner, which includes the Prospect Park Zoo, Carousel, and Lefferts Historic House.

100 Trees for District 39
$355,000
Across District 39
Plant 100 trees in our neighborhoods for more shade, cleaner air, and a healthier community.

Non-profit projects

Compost Education for Students
PS 230
$7,000
Teach students in science programs, special education, and the garden club about composting with hands-on STEM activities relating to soil and water.

Repair Café
Big Reuse Center
$10,000
Learn how to repair everyday objects like furniture, appliances, and clothes in order to prevent waste at a public six-month long series of workshops.

Food for Thought: Curriculum for Teachers
District 39 schools
$14,500
Train K-12 teachers on how to integrate food equity and climate resiliency topics into their courses.

Upcycle Fabrics: Mending Workshops
Across District 39
$15,000
Host educational workshops by FABScrap on textile sustainability, as well as practical courses on garment mending. Free fabric will be provided.

Seed Libraries for Our Libraries
District 39 Library Branches
$2,000
Provide libraries with free vegetable, fruit, and flower seeds to make gardening and growing food at home accessible.

Farm and Food Education in D39 Schools
PS 118 & PS 130
$20,000
Support two hydroponic farm classrooms with programming and supplies to grow and harvest food for the school community.

A Tree Grows in Gowanus: Stewarding our Urban Forest
Gowanus
$5,100
Eight community events to care for neighborhood trees by laying compost, mulching, watering, and removing trash to protect our trees.

District 39’s Climate Artist in Residence
BAX Studios
$15,000
A yearlong project to host an artist focused on climate justice to create public artworks and multigenerational art workshops specific to District 39.

Seed Funding for the CHiPS Food Pantry Truck
Mobile, 4th Avenue Shelters
$20,000
Support our neighbors facing food insecurity by setting up a mobile food distribution to provide fresh and healthy food options.

Bike Repair Pop-Ups on Open Streets
Open Streets in District 39
$7,000
Five bike repair events with mechanics available to fix bikes and teach common bike maintenance.

Pop-up Climate Action Studio
Avenue C Plaza and 4th St. Plaza
$17,500
Pop-up mobile studio near public schools with science exhibits, teach-ins and family activities based on local climate issues and immigration stories.