Forest Hills Schools Win Upgrades In Participatory Budget Vote

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Several Forest Hills public schools will receive upgrades, thanks to residents who voted in this year's participatory budgeting cycle.

Newly renovated bathrooms and water bottle fill stations are coming to 10 local schools, City Council Member Karen Koslowitz announced.

The projects received the most votes from residents in Koslowitz's participatory budgeting cycle, which lets locals decide how the city should spend funds in their neighborhoods.

P.S. 51, 101, 139, 175, 206, 220 will receive a total of $600,000 in bathroom renovations. P.S. 99, 101, 139, 174, 175 and 206 and J.H.S. 157 and 190 will get water bottle filling stations, costing $400,000.

"PB is all about having local communities decide which projects they want to prioritize, as we work toward a more transparent and inclusive city government," Koslowitz said in a statement, using an acronym for participatory budgeting.

This is the district's fifth year of participatory budgeting, during which residents vote on projects to receive $1 million.