Spend $1 Million In West Village Funds With Participatory Budgeting

WEST VILLAGE, NY — Want more trees? Better libraries? Improved public schools?

The Participatory Budget process is now open in West Village and Greenwich Village, which means you can submit or support ideas in the neighborhood for the chance to receive funding.

From now through Nov. 1, West Village and Greenwich Village residents in Districts 2 and 3 can propose ideas on how $1 million of Council Member Erik Bottcher and Carlina Rivera's city budget allocations will be used in the neighborhood.

After the deadline, city agencies will evaluate each proposal, and the council member's office will work with community leaders to narrow down the ideas to create a ballot that will go up for a vote.

The projects must be used for physical infrastructure that benefits the public, cost at least $50,000, and have a lifespan of at least five years.

The projects will then be voted on in the spring.

Bottcher will be holding a neighborhood assembly on Oct. 17 at the LGBT Center on West 13th Street at 6 p.m., where he invites neighbors to get together and brainstorm ideas for projects.

Here are the winners from the 2022 Participatory Budget cycle in District 3:

1. Street Tree Beds Expansions

• Cost: $350,000
• Votes: 2,199
• Project will expand tree beds across the district with the aim of capturing more storm water runoff and promoting tree health.

2. Bathroom Renovations for Public Schools

• Cost: $450,000
• Votes: 1,885
• Project will renovate bathrooms at Quest to Learn, High School of Fashion Industry, and NYC iSchool.

3. Theater District Pedestrian Safety Upgrades

• Cost: $300,000
• Votes: 1,593
• Project will add pedestrian safety features, such as curb extensions to 41st, 42nd and 43rd streets, between Seventh and Eighth avenues.

To submit your idea by the Nov. 1 deadline, or to check out other ideas in the neighborhood and around the city, click here.