Which Bushwick Projects Should The City Fund? Vote For New B-Ball Hoops, Repaved Roads, Student Laptops, More

BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN — Seems like just yesterday every red-blooded New Yorker over age 14 was racing to the polls for Participatory Budgeting Vote Week 2016, making controversial neighborhood decisions like whether to divert taxpayer money toward a "Lake Mess Monster" aquatic weed harvester for Prospect Park or a fleet of roving "mobile studios" for starving artists in Gowanus.

JK. Only a few thousand residents (at most) in each of the city's 51 districts ever bother to vote in these things. The vast majority probably don't even know they exist.

Considering how much of our own cash is on the line, though, that's kind of a shame. And some of the proposals can be pretty rad — this year, for example, Bushwick residents have the chance to repair 1 mile of roadway with asphalt made from recycled materials.

So what do you say we make 2017 the year Participatory Budgeting became the cool thing to do? You know, over a beer with a neighbor on a Friday night.

Scroll down for a list of the projects in Bushwick and environs vying for $1 million to $2 million in city funds this year.

If you're not familiar with any of them (and aren't much of a recycled asphalt person), this whole process may seem like a waste of time. But think what a difference your vote could make for, say, a local school seeking a new basketball court, theater or film and photography lab.

Now that we've guilted you into some good, old-fashioned community involvement: Before you vote, you'll have to figure out which City Council district you live in.

Unfortunately, because municipal governments can never do things the easy way, NYC's political districts aren't divided cleanly by neighborhood. So you'll have to plug in your address here to find your City Council district. Or, if you like to live on the edge, do your best to geolocate yourself in either the 34th or 37th district on these maps:

Once you know your City Council district — feels kinda good, doesn't it? — you can browse nearby projects in need of city funds. We've listed them below.

And once you've decided which ones you want to support, you can vote for your 5 favorites online (or in person) between Saturday, March 25, and Sunday, April 2.

That's pretty much it. Get to democratizing, you crazy kids:

BUSHWICK

If you live in Bushwick and your home is located within Antonio Reynoso's 34th City Council district, below are your options for neighborhood projects to fund. And here's where you can vote in person.

A Modern Gym at Bushwick Leaders High School

• The idea is for a hardwood floor resurfacing and new wall padding to motivate students to reach their fitness goals.
• 797 Bushwick Avenue, Bushwick
• $300,000

Modernize our Gym at Hope Gardens Community Center

• We would like to upgrade the gym by installing hardwood floors and new basketball hoops to support various programming.
• 422 Central Avenue, Bushwick
• $500,000

Roadway Resurfacing

• A replacement of a 1 mile lane with asphalt made from recycled materials. Will improve street flow and travel time.
• Districtwide
• $250,000

Tech. Upgrades at P.S. 319 and EBC High School

• Our technology upgrades include new laptops to aid students from Pre-K to the 12th grade in both schools.
• 360 Keap Street, East Williamsburg, and 1155 Dekalb Avenue, Bushwick
• $350,000

Mini STEAM (STEM + Art) Lab at P.S. 239

• We are asking for laptops and a STEM cart so that students can learn through the arts, technology and science.
• 17-15 Weirfield Street, Ridgewood, Queens
• $170,000

Electrical Upgrade at Grand Street Campus

• This electrical upgrade will set the building up for an air-conditioning system in the future.
• 850 Grant Street, East Williamsburg
• $300,000

Auditorium Upgrade at P.S. 257

• We want to install new chairs, wheelchair access to the stage, a screen and modern light and sounds installations.
• 60 Cook Street, East Williamsburg
• $250,000

Multi Media Center at P.S. 250

• This includes state of the art technology and support for media such as photography, film making and podcasting.
• 108 Montrose Avenue, East Williamsburg
• $400,000

A Paperless School at the Green School

• We are asking for 100 laptops and charging carts to support our mission to become a paperless school.
• 223 Graham Avenue, East Williamsburg
• $150,000

Auditorium Facelift at P.S. 147/TYWLS

• This project calls for an upgrade to the auditorium that P.S. 147 and The Young Women’s Leadership School share.
• 325 Bushwick Avenue, East Williamsburg
• $400,000

Playground Renovation at Cooper Park Houses

• We are asking for new benches, tables and modern playground structures with wheelchair access.
• 1 of 3 playgrounds throughout the development, East Williamsburg/Greenpoint
• $500,000

If you, on the other hand, live in Bushwick but your home is located within Rafael Espinal Jr.'s 37th City Council district, you're out of luck: Espinal hasn't yet implemented Participatory Budgeting in his district. Let him know what you think about that here.