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The results are in: Upper West Siders have decided how to allocate more than $1 million in public funds through this year’s Participatory Budgeting (PB) process, Council Member Gale Brewer’s office has announced. The initiative allows residents of District 6 to vote on community improvement projects they felt would most benefit the neighborhood.
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From a pool of seven proposed projects, five received enough votes to be funded with capital dollars from the city. Voting opened on March 29 and ran through April 7, with thousands of residents—ages 11 and up—casting their ballots either online or at one of 15 in-person voting locations.
The winning projects are:
Tree Guard Installation – $160,000
Installation of 100 tree guards throughout the district to protect street trees from damage, support healthy growth, and beautify the neighborhood.
Bathroom Renovations at PS 84 – $300,000
Two student bathrooms at the Lillian Weber School of the Arts will be renovated to improve cleanliness, accessibility, and overall usability.
Riverside Park Wall Repair – $100,000
The deteriorating retaining wall at West 72nd Street in Riverside Park will be restored with new mortar and stone replacements to ensure safety and structural integrity.
Gym Cooling System at the William O’Shea School Complex – $250,000
The gym used by MS 247 and MS 245 will receive a new cooling system, improving conditions for students, staff, and community programs.
Cooling System Upgrade at Frank McCourt High School – $250,000
An upgraded cooling system will provide a more comfortable and climate-resilient learning environment.
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When the list of finalists was first announced in March, projects ranged from infrastructure improvements to educational upgrades and green space enhancements. Community volunteers helped vet and develop each proposal, ensuring feasibility and cost estimates in collaboration with city agencies.
Although only five projects could be funded through the PB vote, Council Member Brewer announced her office will also fund the remaining two proposals: repairs to the Broadway Malls and facility upgrades at the High School for Environmental Studies.
“Thank you to everyone who submitted ideas, spread the word, and voted,” Brewer wrote in a message to constituents. “You made these projects possible.”
Participatory Budgeting is expected to return in the fall with a new round of community brainstorming and proposal development—offering another opportunity for residents to directly influence how their tax dollars are spent.
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