These Projects Won Brad Lander's Participatory Budget Money

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — A first-of-its-kind skate garden, a new farm stand, upgrades in Brooklyn's backyard — the votes are in for District 39's Participatory Budget season.

Council Member Brad Lander unveiled the winners on Sunday of the district's 2021 Participatory Budget vote, which lets residents choose how to spend a portion of city funding.

“These amazing winning PB projects show how we can rise from this crisis together,” Lander said. “...Despite the challenges of the pandemic, or maybe because of them, our 10th year of PB was one of the best yet.”

This year, five proposals in District 39 were up for the $1.5 million capital project funding, which goes to large-scale physical improvements, and nine suggestions were on the ballot for $50,000 of expense funding, or money for smaller programs or services.

A total of 5,446 residents of District 39 — which spans from Carroll Gardens to Borough Park — cast their votes during vote week, according to Lander's office.

The district was one of four that held Participatory Budget votes despite not having citywide support from the City Council speaker, according to Lander's office. Votes were also cast in District 5 in Manhattan and districts 38 and 33 in Brooklyn.

Here's a look at the winners for District 39:

Capital Projects

Bathroom Renovations at PS 131: 3,287 votes, $650,000

Downpayment to Create a World Class “Brooklyn Skate Garden: 3,057 votes, $300,000

Prospect Park Children's Corner Improvements: 2,874 votes, $425,000

Expense Projects

Neighborhood Farm Stand and Immigrant Women’s Craft Market: 2,668 votes, $20,000

Roadway Use Study of Prospect Park Drive, to Make it More Park-Friendly Now That it is Car-Free: 2,502 votes, $15,000

Eco-Friendly Diapers for Families in Need: 2,430 votes, $10,000

More Trees for Kensington Streets: 2,325 votes, $7,000