How To Pick Which Northeast Queens Projects Get City Funding

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Do you want to see technology upgrades at your kids' schools or local libraries? Maybe you want the city to work on restoring Udall's Cove Park Preserve, or think it would be cool to build a green biome at Bayside High School.

Any of those projects could become a reality with this year's participatory budget, which lets locals decide how the city should spend funds in their neighborhoods. Voting kicks off Saturday for northeast Queens residents, who can choose up to five projects from a list of 20.

Voting runs from March 30 to April 7 for residents of City Council Member Paul Vallone's district. That includes Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Beechhurst, College Point, Douglaston, Little Neck, Malba, North Flushing and Whitestone.

Residents can vote online or in-person at Vallone's office at 42-40 Bell Blvd. in Bayside. Other locations include LIRR stations and schools; the full list of locations and times is available here.

"Participatory budgeting is grassroots democracy at its best and a great way to get the pulse of the community’s interests and budget priorities," Vallone said. "Last year’s incredibly successful cycle, which garnered the most votes of any Council District in Queens, shows the power and importance of this community-led process."

Last year, Vallone earmarked nearly $1.8 million in funding to community-selected projects.

The projects up for a vote include:

• P.S. 193 Technology Upgrade
• P.S. 129 Gymnasium Renovation
• P.S. 79 Security and Camera System
• Green Biome at Bayside High School
• M.S. 67 Portable S.T.E.M. Lab
• P.S. 169/Bell Academy Auditorium Equipment Upgrade
• M.S. 379 Classrooms of the Future
• P.S. 21 Gymnasium Renovation
• P.S. 98 Auditorium Cooling System
• P.S. 209 S.T.E.M. Mobile Labs for Classrooms
• J.H.S. 185 Technology Upgrade
• J.H.S. 194 Auditorium Audio & Visual System
• Adrien Block Campus Auditorium Renovation
• Real Time Passenger Countdown Clocks
• NYPD Security Cameras
• Basketball Court Renovations at MacNeil Park
• Adult Fitness Center at MacNeil Park
• Udall's Cove Park Preserve Restoration
• Powell's Cove Park Beautification
• Technology Upgrades at Local Libraries

For more information, visit council.nyc.gov/pb.