Uptown Residents Fund Library, Public Housing Improvements

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS-INWOOD, NY — More than 2,000 residents of Washington Heights and Inwood voted to fund improvements for neighborhood libraries and an Inwood public housing development during this year's participatory budgeting cycle, officials said.

Uptown residents voted on 11 different projects between April 7 and 15 during this year's participatory budgeting cycle. This year was the first in which people could cast their ballots in person, online and on LinkNYC kiosks.

The Dyckman Houses in Inwood will receive investments totaling $800,000 to improve a playground in the development and for an ADA-accessible ramp for the development's community center. The remaining $200,000 will be spent on technology upgrades at libraries throughout Washington Heights and Inwood.

City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez said all 11 projects up for funding were "much needed investments" and he will look into securing funding for those that didn't win any participatory budgeting money.

Here's a full list of this year's participatory budgeting projects (winners in bold):

1. District Libraries Technology Upgrades: Estimated cost $200,000
2. P.S. 173 Auditorium Technology Upgrade: Estimated cost $150,000
3. P.S. 48 Playground Renovation: Estimated cost $500,000
4. George Washington High School Weight Training: Estimated cost $80,000
5. Sound System for WHEELS Auditorium: Estimated cost $150,000
6. Dyckman Houses Building #4 Playground Renovation: Estimated cost $500,000
7. Dyckman Houses Building #3 Park Renovation: Estimated cost $500,000
8. Dyckman Houses New Park Game Tables: Estimated cost $350,000
9. Dyckman Houses Community Center Outside Drainage: Estimated cost $500,000
10. Dyckman Houses Community Center ADA Ramp: Estimated cost $850,000
11. Northern Basketball Court Wallenberg Playground: Estimated cost $535,000

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