Vote On How To Spend $1.5M For Park Slope Projects

PARK SLOPE, NY — A senior fitness playground could be built in Prospect Park or the old John Jay Library could be turned into a community space under proposals to be voted on for this year's Participatory Budget.

Voting starts on Saturday on how to spend up to $1.5 million of Councilman Brad Lander's budget around Park Slope and Carroll Gardens with improvements to playgrounds, schools, libraries and more on the ballot.

This year's ballot includes $400,000 to add "playground-style" exercise equipment for senior citizens in Prospect Park near Ninth Street, $7,600 to study endangered bats in the park and $200,000 to replace rusty sinks and falling apart cabinets in P.S. 282, according to Lander's office.

Residents can also decide to spend $250,000 to turn the old John Jay Library into a community meeting room and classroom with five large monitors and a sound system or create an outdoor garden space at the Borough Park Library for $400,000.

Anybody who lives in Lander's district above the age of 11 can vote in the process and ballots are open until April 15. Residents can fill out ballots online or visit several pop-up locations around the neighborhood starting on Monday at the Park Slope Library from 6 to 9 p.m., according to Lander.

For a full list of voting locations and ballot proposals visit Lander's website.

Image: Marc Torrence/Patch