Vote On What Neighborhood Project Local Pol Carlina Rivera Funds

EAST VILLAGE, NY — Do you want better playgrounds and basketball courts at New York City Housing Authority buildings? What about gym renovations at PS 188 on East Houston Street? Or countdown clocks along your local bus route across District 2?

The City Council's participatory budgeting process gives District 2 residents the chance to vote on which neighborhood projects Councilmember Carlina Rivera will fund. Up to $1 million of projects will be funded based on residents' votes.

Residents of District 2, which stretches from the Lower East Side through the East Village and Kips Bay, can vote for up to five projects. Kids at least 11-years-old can vote as well.

Voting kicks off Saturday through April 7. The public can vote online here or in person at vote sites throughout the district, listed in a flier below or online here.

Rivera is kicking off the vote week with a forum to learn more about each project Saturday 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Lower East Side Girls Club at 402 East Eighth St. The public can RSVP here.

Out of 135 ideas submitted, 11 projects made the ballot. Below is the final list:

Fence installation at El Jardín del Paraiso Garden

Cost: $225,000
Location: 710 East Fifth St.
Project: Install an iron fence around El Jardín del Paraiso community garden that is stronger and similar in design to nearby gardens.

Water system construction at 6BC Botanical Garden

Cost: $300,000
Location: 630 East Sixth St.
Project: Install a water source for 6BC community garden to allow for running water without relying on a fire hydrant nearby.

An accessible lift at PS 40

Cost: $350,000
Location: 320 East 20th St.
Project: Install a lift at the stairway entrance of PS 40 for people unable to use the stairs to enter the building.

Gym renovations at PS 188

Cost: $150,000
Location: 442 East Houston St.
Project: Install storage space, replace padding, upgrade seating and purchase more gym equipment for PS 188.

Science mobile carts for PS 34

Cost: $140,000
Location: 730 East 12th St.
Project: Two science mobile carts for PS 34 with science and technology tools to promote STEM learning.

Countdown clocks along the M9, M14A, and M14D routes

Cost: $200,000
Location: District-wide
Project: Countdown clocks along bus routes to show when the next bus will arrive.

Street resurfacing district-wide

Cost: $250,000 per lane, per mile
Location: District-wide
Project: Repair damaged streets throughout District 2.

Garbage compactor upgrades at Straus Houses

Cost: $100,000
Location 243 East 27th St.
Project: Upgrade two garbage compactors in Straus Houses' garbage room. Currently, garbage is left outside when there is n o garbage collection, causing sanitation issues from rodents to smelly streets and garbage on sidewalks.

Playground renovations at Lillian Wald Houses

Cost: $500,000
Location: Behind 50 Avenue D
Project: Upgrade play equipment at Lillian Wald Houses' playground. Currently, the playground has chipping paint and rusted metal. The project would include a slide and monkey bars.

Playground renovations at Jacob Riis Houses

Cost: $500,000
Location: 170 Avenue D
Project: Upgrade play equipment at Jacob Riis Houses' playground. Currently, the playground has chipping paint, rusted metal and dented slides.

Basketball court renovations at Jacob Riis Houses

Cost: $500,000
Location: 178 Avenue D
Project: Replaster, repaint and replace missing equipment at the basketball court at Jacob Riis Houses behind 178 Avenue D.

In-person voting sites listed in a flier provided by Rivera's office below:

If residents have questions or would like to volunteer during the vote week, contact Rivera's Director of Outreach and Participatory Budgeting, Ivy Ann Rosado, at irosado@council.nyc.gov or 212-677-1077.