P.S. 129, Bayside High School Win In Participatory Budgeting

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — A College Point school will get a fully renovated gym, thanks to northeast Queens residents who voted in this year's participatory budgeting cycle.

A P.S. 129 gymnasium renovation got the most votes in City Council Member Paul Vallone's participatory budget, which lets locals decide how the city should spend funds in their neighborhoods. The project received more than 2,000 votes from residents in Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Beechhurst, College Point, Douglaston, Little Neck, Malba, North Flushing and Whitestone.

The projects that came in second and third place, which also receive funding, are a a green biome at Bayside High School and four new NYPD security cameras.

1. P.S. 129 Gymnasium Renovation - 2,009 votes; This project will fund a full renovation of the school’s existing gym space to enhance educational opportunities in the safest way possible for the P.S. 129 school community.
2. Green Biome at Bayside High School - 1,807 votes; This project will fund a Green Biome, which will provides avenues for hands-on learning about hydroponics, solar energy, recycling and urban gardening.
3. NYPD Security Cameras - 1,574 votes; This project will fund and install four NYPD security cameras in District 19, which are meant to enhance crime prevention.

"The Green Biome will be a cutting edge learning facility for our students as well as a community center," Bayside High School Assistant Principal Jonathan Hirata said. "It will continue to raise awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability in the community.”

Vallone's participatory budget received just over 8,500 votes — the best turnout in the whole city, according to Vallone's office. Voting ran from March 30 to April 7.

"The results once again clearly show that Northeast Queens has overwhelmingly embraced the success of the participatory budgeting process," Vallone said. "This grassroots process encourages voter participation at a time when voter turnout is at a record low and is a great way to teach our youth the power and importance of voting."