Bathrooms, Park Fixes: These UES Projects Won Menin's Budget Bucks

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The results are in, and Upper East Siders chose security cameras, improvements to a beloved park, and upgrades to local libraries as a few of the projects worthy of thousands of dollars in government funds.

On Monday, City Councilmember Julie Menin announced the six winners of her office's participatory budgeting program, which gave residents the chance to decide how to spend about $1 million on neighborhood projects.

With 1,838 votes cast over about one week, two projects tied for first place: resurfacing the schoolyards at M.S. 114 and P.S. 138, and funding technology upgrades at three New York Public Library branches.

All told, Menin's office will spend $1,380,000 to fund the six winning projects. Here's the list:

Schoolyard Resurfacing for M.S. 114 and P.S. 138 (798 votes)

• Location: M.S. 114 East Side Middle School/P.S. 138 (331 East 91st St.)
• Cost: $380,000
• Description: "Project would replace the slippery, degraded mats of the schoolyard that date back to the building's construction over a decade ago. This will improve the overall safety and sanitary conditions for the students."

Technology Upgrades at New York Public Libraries (798 votes)

• Location: Roosevelt Island, Webster and 67th Street libraries
• Cost: $250,000
• Description: "Project would provide technology enhancements at Roosevelt Island, Webster, and 67th Street Libraries."

Pathway Repavings in Carl Schurz Park (747 votes)

• Location: Carl Schurz Park
• Cost: $300,000
• Description: "Project would repave 10,000 square feet of paths in Carl Schurz Park."

Four NYPD Security Cameras (668 votes)

• Location: within District 5; specific sites to be chosen by NYPD
• Cost: $160,000
• Description: "Project would fund 4 NYPD cameras in Council District 5. These security cameras would enhance crime prevention, provide a sense of security in public areas, and establish surveillance in underserved areas."

M.S. 177 Bathroom Renovations (665 votes)

• Location: M.S. 177 Yorkville East Middle School (1458 York Ave.)
• Cost: $225,000
• Description: "Project would renovate one faculty and one student bathroom, both of which are in a general state of disrepair. It would upgrade the sinks, faucets, toilets, soap dispensers, mirrors, tile floors, stalls, paper towel dispensers, and urinals."

P.S. 151 Water Bottle Filling Stations (652 votes)

• Location: P.S. 151 Yorkville Community School (421 East 88th St.)
• Cost: $64,000
• Description: "Project would install 8 water bottle filling stations to cover each of the five floors of the school."

"Not only is my office providing the one million dollars to fund the three winning projects, but in response to the enormous success of this year's cycle and the critical need for capital improvements, I am proud to raise my commitment to $1,380,000 to fund an additional 3," Menin said in a news release.

Others praising the funding included David Getz, principal of M.S. 114 and P.S. 138., who said the $380,000 would help "revive our yard with new matting that will keep our students happy, safe and clean."

Judy Howard, Board Chair of the Carl Schurz Park Conservancy, said she was "heartened and inspired by the outpouring of support from the community," adding, "It is wonderful to see that Carl Schurz Park means so much to so many."

The projects will be included in the city's next budget, to be passed in June.

Participatory budgeting has become something of a tradition in Menin's Yorkville Council district: former member Ben Kallos ran the program every year during his eight-year tenure in the Council, with last year's winning projects including $750,000 for laptop carts and STEM programs for local schools, and $187,000 to plant 50 new sidewalk trees.

Related coverage:

• Parks, Cameras: These UES Projects Could Win Menin's Budget Bucks
• Upper East Side Budget: Help Choose How $1 Million Gets Spent