Forest Hills 2018 Participatory Budget: What's On The Ballot

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS -- The New York City Council will dole out at least $1 million for improvements to Forest Hills and surrounding neighborhoods, and residents get to decide how to spend it all.

That's the idea behind Participatory Budgeting, which every year allows community members in participating districts to vote on how city council will spend at least $1 million. Starting April 7, residents of District 29 - which spans Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill - which capital projects the government should fund.

The New York City Council will doll out $1 million of its budget to neighborhood projects across the city, and its entirely up to residents to decide which projects they'll spend it.

Several Forest Hills and Rego Park schools are on this year's ballot for upgrades including new water fountains, new gym lockers, bathroom renovations and auditorium upgrades.

Forest Hills' J.H.S. 190 Russell Sage made its way onto the ballot twice. Once as part of a proposal for new gym lockers and again for a $500,000 project to bring new adult exercise equipment to its playground.

Here's a full list of projects on the District 29 ballot:

• Electronic Bus Countdown Clocks along Q60, Q64 and Q23 routes: $350,000
• Circuit Training Workout Stations at Forest Park in Kew Gardens: $350,000
• Adult Exercise Equipment for J.H.S. 190 Russell Sage in Forest Hills: $500,000
• New Water Fountains And Water Bottle Fill Stations for Forest Hills High School, P.S. 144 and P.S. 196: $120,000
• New Gym Lockers at J.H.S. 157 and J.H.S. 190: $300,000
• Auditorium Upgrades (lighting, audio visual systems or curtains, depending on the school) for P.S. 174, P.S. 139, P.S. 99, P.S. 175, P.S. 206, P.S. 220: $750,000
• Bathroom Renovations for P.S. 220, P.S. 101, P.S. 54, P.S.139, P.S.206: $500,000
• ADA Accessible Doors at Richmond Hills Library: $200,000

Polls are open from April 7-14. Click here to find out when and where you can vote for your favorite project.

Lead photo via Shutterstock.