Which Park Slope Projects Should The City Fund? Vote For Dog Run Upgrades, Mobile Homeless Showers, Bus Arrival Clocks, More

PARK SLOPE, 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, Park Slope residents have the chance to fund real-time bus countdown clocks outside F, G and R subway stations.

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 projects in Park Slope 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 bus 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 safer street crossing for students.

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.

Fortunately, unlike the many NYC neighborhoods split between districts, the entirety of Park Slope is pretty well contained within Brad Lander's 39th City Council district. Just to be sure you're in the 39th, though, plug in your address here. Or, if you like to live on the edge, do your best to geolocate yourself on this map of the district:

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 between Saturday, March 25, and Sunday, April 2, or in person at one of these polling sites.

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

CHiPS Mobile Showers for Homeless Neighbors

• The CHiPS soup kitchen will purchase a two-stall shower trailer that provides our neediest neighbors access to hygiene.
• In front of CHiPS building, 200 4th Avenue, Park Slope
• $59,560

Renovate a Beloved, Busy and Bare-Bones Dog Run

• Upgrade includes resurfacing, and installation of benches, fencing, shade trees and water for drinking and cleaning.
• Washington Park, near JJ Byrne Playground, Park Slope
• $400,000

Install 1/4 Mile Markers on Prospect Park Drive

• Place distance markers every 1/4 mile to serve exercise users and help visitors find their way to landmarks in the park.
• Along the East and West Drive in Prospect Park, Park Slope
• $60,000

Realtime Bus Arrival Info near Subway Stops

• Install 8 countdown clocks at bus stops near subway exits, to enable informed decisions on transportation choices.
• Near F, G, R stops
• $200,000

Safer Street Crossing for Middle School Students

• To increase safety for all, extend the curb between J.J. Byrne Playground and M.S. 51.
• 5th avenue and 4th Street, SE Corner, Park Slope
• $524,000

Note: Partly because Lander's district is so funny-shaped and stretches all the way down to the East River on one end and Borough Park on the other, many of this year's projects in the 39th are located a long way from Park Slope. So if you aren't too jazzed on the hyperlocal options, check out the projects seeking funds in Gowanus and Windsor Terrace-Kensington. You can choose any of those, too — just as long as they're within your City Council district. Solidarity, yo!