Which Ditmas Park And Flatbush Projects Should The City Fund? Vote For New Park Path, Pedestrian Island, Youth Garden, More

BROOKLYN, NY — 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, Prospect Park-adjacent residents have the chance to fund a new pedestrian path through the park's West Parade Ground.

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 Ditmas Park, Flatbush and East Flatbush 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 park 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 computers for kids, a STEM technology lab or a safe yard where students can play.

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 40th or 45th 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:

DITMAS PARK

If you live in Ditmas Park and your home is located within Mathieu Eugene's 40th City Council district, below are your options for neighborhood projects to fund. And here's where you can vote in person.

Technology Upgrades

• Teacher resource station, computer and much needed equipment to improve learning for diverse, often immigrant, children.
• P.S. 217, 1100 Newkirk Avenue at Coney Island Avenue, Ditmas Park/Flatbush
• $250,000

New Play Yard for Ditmas Park

• Renovate the cracked and often flooded asphalt lot, to create a safer and more engaging public space for families.
• P.S. 139, 330 Rugby at Cortelyou, Ditmas Park
• $500,000

Safe Pedestrian Path Through West Parade Ground

• Improve walkway next to the Precinct so people can walk through the west side safely without cars, bikes and trucks.
• Prospect Park Parade Ground by West Driveway, Ditmas Park
• $500,000

Note: Because of the shape of Eugene's district, many of this year's projects in the 40th are located in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. So if you aren't too jazzed on the hyperlocal options, check out the projects seeking funds over in PLG. You can choose any of those, too — just as long as they're within your City Council district. Solidarity, yo!

FLATBUSH

If you live in Flatbush or East Flatbush and your home is located within Jumaane Williams' 45th City Council district, below are your options for neighborhood projects to fund. And here's where you can vote in person.

P.S. 152/315 and Midwood High School Schoolyard Upgrade

• Maximize recreational space for schoolchildren and community, including new playground, renovated yard and garden upgrade.
• Bedford Avenue between Glenwood Road and Campus Road, Flatbush
• $500,000

STEM Lab at Brooklyn College Academy

• New computer stations, mobile workstations, separate areas for lectures and a storage for students to store jackets.
• 2900 Bedford Avenue, James Hall #1311, Flatbush
• $100,000

Walk Safely Across Flatbush Avenue

• Install clearer signs, signal or safety islands to help pedestrians cross this confusing 3-way diagonal intersection.
• Intersection of Flatbush, Bedford and Foster Avenues, Flatbush
• $1,500,000

Rugby Public Library Renovation and Tech Upgrade

• Creation of a STEM learning lab, meeting room and business center. Visitors will be able to learn, work and prosper.
• 1000 Utica Avenue, East Flatbush
• $500,000

Technology Upgrade at P.S. 181

• A renovated computer lab with modern computers, new computer desks to enhance our children’s learning experience.
• P.S. 181, 1023 New York Avenue, East Flatbush
• $150,000

Technology Upgrade at P.S. 109

• A newly renovated and modernized computer lab with new computers, new computer stations to enhance students’ learning.
• P.S. 109, 1001 East 45th Street, East Flatbush
• $150,000