Participatory Budgeting Results
School upgrades and transportation improvements topped the list of projects approved by Woodhaven, Ozone Park and Richmond Hill residents in the area’s inaugural participatory budgeting vote last week.
Residents in the three neighborhoods living within the confines of City Council Member Eric Ulrich’s 32nd District cast ballots last week for the five projects, estimated to cost just over $1 million in capital funds for the 2015 fiscal year.
Ulrich and the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association announced the results on Tuesday night, Apr. 8.
Leading the way with 137 votes were a slate of school upgrades totalling $376,000. The planned improvements include a new fence around J.H.S. 210’s playground in Ozone Park; audio-visual upgrades for P.S. 64’s auditorium in Ozone Park; and various technological improvements at P.S. 273 in Richmond Hill and P.S. 60 in Ozone Park.
The second most popular project with 112 votes was the installation of real time countdown clocks at four bus stops within Community Board 9’s confines. The project is expected to cost $80,000.
Finishing in third place with 106 votes was the resurfacing of a twomile stretch of Woodhaven Boulevard, estimated to cost about $300,000. Repaving pathways in Forest Park was the fourth mostby popular project; 96 votes were cast for the proposal, which is estimated to cost $150,000.
The fifth and final project, receiving 93 votes, was $100,000 in capital funding toward interior renovations at the Richmond Hill library.
Missing the cut were upgrades at the 102nd Precinct’s Richmond Hill stationhouse; new hiking trail signs at Forest Park; new fencing and signage at the Forest Park dog run; and renovations to Richmond Hill’s Marco Giovanelli Playground.
Under participatory budgeting, voters in a City Council member’s district get a chance to form and vote on a list of capital projects for the next fiscal year budget; generally, each participating council district receives about $1 million in funds for these projects.
