You Can Pick Which Bushwick Project Gets City Funding

BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN — The city wants to know what you would do for your neighborhood if you had a million bucks and no, you can’t take everyone on a trip to Finland.

New York City Council will be doling out $1 million in this year’s round of participatory budgeting, when locals get to vote on what neighborhood projects should get city funding.

The good news is that Bushwick residents will have one week from April 7 to April 15 to vote on which capital projects they think the neighborhood needs most, according to City Council’s announcement.

The bad news is that they will not be accepting votes online — Bushwickers are going to have to trek out to one of 11 spots in the neighborhood to cast their ballots.

There are nine projects in Bushwick, Ridgewood and Williamsburg to choose from — six school improvements, one new library ramp, one tree-planting project and one new set of lights for the Williamsburg Houses.

So think it over, do your research and cast your vote. Here are the options in District 34:

• Plant 250 trees throughout Ridgewood, Bushwick and Williamsburg: $450,000
• Upgrade lighting in outdoors spaces at the Williamsburg houses: $500,000
• Build a green playground at P.S. 147: $500,000
• Upgrade the broadband system and buy 30 new computers for P.S. 299: $150,000
• Build a hydroponic farm at P.S. 274: $250,000
• Upgrade the gym at Brooklyn Leaders High School: $350,000
• Upgrade the auditorium at P.S. 17/M.S. 577: $450,000
• Build a multimedia center with film making, photography and podcasting facilities at P.S. 250
• Install a ramp at Leonard Library: $500,000

Polls are open from April 7 to April 15. Click here to find out when and where you can vote for your favorite project.

Photo by Kathleen Culliton