Participatory Budgeting Is Back in Park Slope: How to Get Involved

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Is there a Park Slope project you think deserves attention and budgetary backing? If so, you're in luck: the 2017 participatory budgeting process is getting underway.

Through participatory budgeting, New Yorkers can vote on which local projects should be funded using budget dollars controlled by their City Council representative.

Park Slope is represented by Brad Lander. Nine projects within Lander's district were funded through PB in 2016, including $200,000 for new auditorium lights at PS 282 and $140,000 to clean up invasive weeds in the Prospect Park Lake. (The complete list of 2016 winners is available online.)

But before a list of proposed projects is put together, residents have a chance to weigh in on what they think should be funded.

Three upcoming public PB meetings are scheduled for September, during which project ideas can be pitched and discussed. The first two meetings will have a particular issue area they're focused on, while the third is open to anything. Here's the meeting schedule:

• Meeting 1: Monday, Sep. 19th at 6:30 p.m. at 396 Clinton St. This meeting will focus on arts and education projects. (You can RSVP here.)
• Meeting 2: Thursday, Sep. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at 431 6th Ave. This meeting will focus on projects involving streets, transit, parks and the environment. (You can RSVP here.)
• Meeting 3: Wednesday, Sep. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at 1 Albemarle Rd. This meeting will be open discussions of any project. (You can RSVP here.)

Top image courtesy of 401(K) 2012/Flickr