Last Chance to Direct City Funds Toward 'Lake Mess Monster' in Prospect Park

Photo courtesy of Arts & Democracy Project/Vimeo

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — We’re nearing the end of 2016’s participatory budgeting vote week! Park Slope residents only have until Sunday, April 3, to cast ballots supporting a variety of neighborhood projects.

The list of eligible initiatives depends on your City Council member. If you live in Park Slope, you’re probably represented by 39th District Councilman Brad Lander. (But if you’re not sure, you can use this online tool to figure it out.)

Click here for a list of voting locations within Lander’s district, which also includes parts of Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Borough Park, the Columbia Waterfront and Gowanus.

The projects up for city funding within Lander's district are listed here. Here are the ones relevant to the Park Slope and Prospect Park area:

• $200,000 for new, safer auditorium lights for Public School 282

• $125,000 for a new “makerspace” that will teach coding, modeling and 3D printing at Public School 124

• $140,000 for a new aquatic weed harvester — named the “Lake Mess Monster” — which will remove plants from the surface of Prospect Park Lake

• $175,000 for five freeze-proof water fountains along Prospect Park Drive that will work year-round

• $500,000 for a new sidewalk at Prospect Park West and 16th Street to increase pedestrian access to the park

You do not have to be a registered voter to participate, and anyone 14 and up can cast a ballot. Just bring your ID, a utility bill or some other form of documentation that states your address with you to the polls.

All residents can also vote at Borough Hall, located at 209 Joralemon Street, until April 1. Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m on weekdays.