NYC Residents Pick $25M Participatory Projects

Speaker Julie Menin and the New York City Council said on May 22 that nearly 130,000 New Yorkers voted this spring to decide which neighborhood projects would receive almost $25 million in city capital funding. The winning proposals span schools, parks, libraries and other public spaces across 22 Council districts. The council said the vote, held from April 11 through April 19, drew the largest turnout since the city launched participatory budgeting in 2011. The projects are slated to be included in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget process in June. ### How big was this year’s vote? Nearly 130,000 residents cast ballots in the Fiscal Year 2027 cycle, according to the City Council. The council said that was the highest vote total in the 15 years since participatory budgeting began in New York City. April 11 through April 19 was the voting window for this year’s cycle. New Yorkers could vote online or submit paper ballots at more than 100 in-person sites, the council said. ### What exactly were residents voting on? Participatory budgeting in New York City lets residents decide how part of council members’ discretionary funding is spent on local capital projects. The City Council says eligible proposals typically involve physical infrastructure in public spaces, including schools, parks, libraries, streets and similar facilities. (council.nyc.gov) The council said projects are developed through neighborhood assemblies and budget delegate meetings in the fall and winter, then refined with city agencies before appearing on the ballot. (council.nyc.gov) Winning proposals are added to the upcoming fiscal year budget in June. ### Who was allowed to participate? Residents who live in participating districts and are at least 11 years old could vote, according to the City Council. (council.nyc.gov) Ballots were offered in English and 11 other languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Bangla, French, Haitian Creole, Arabic, Punjabi, Russian, Polish and Yiddish. More than 100 in-person voting sites were used across the 22 participating districts, the council said. (council.nyc.gov) The council described the process as open to community members of all ages, with proposals generated by residents before city agencies review feasibility and cost. ### Which projects won? The City Council’s May 22 release listed winners district by district. In Lower Manhattan’s District 1, represented by Council Member Christopher Marte, voters backed a $350,000 commercial dishwasher for Gouverneur Hospital and a $1 million playground and track field project at the Battery Park City School, according to the release. (council.nyc.gov) In District 2, represented by Council Member Harvey Epstein, the council listed several smaller expense-funded projects at $15,000 each, including youth environmental stewardship, multilingual food-safety training, a mentoring program and an inclusion initiative. (council.nyc.gov) The council said Epstein funded expense projects through participatory budgeting this cycle. The council’s release says the full list of winning projects for all 22 districts is posted with the announcement. (council.nyc.gov) The mix of projects includes school upgrades, park improvements, library investments and other neighborhood infrastructure proposals. ### What did city leaders say about the results? Julie Menin, the Council speaker, said the process gives residents “the opportunity to directly participate” in deciding which district projects get funded. (council.nyc.gov) Menin said the vote was about civic engagement and that “over 128,000 New Yorkers proved exactly that.” The City Council said participatory budgeting in New York City began in 2011 with four council members — Brad Lander, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Eric Ulrich and Jumaane D. (council.nyc.gov) Williams — and has since expanded across the city. ### What happens next for the winning proposals? June is the next key step in the process. The City Council says winning projects are included in the upcoming fiscal year budget that month, after the April vote and the May announcement of results. (council.nyc.gov) City agencies then oversee implementation of the funded projects, according to the council’s participatory budgeting page. Questions about the process are directed to the council’s participatory budgeting office, which lists a public contact for follow-up as the city moves into the Fiscal Year 2027 budget cycle. (council.nyc.gov)