Which Sunset Park Projects Should The City Fund? Vote For 'Rubberized' School Yard, Campus Surveillance, Ball Courts, More

SUNSET PARK, 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, Sunset Park residents have the chance to fund hundreds of thousands of dollars in renovations at local schoolyards and playgrounds.

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 Sunset Park vying for $2 million in city funds this year.

If you're not familiar with any of them (and aren't much of a playground 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 an auditorium for the arts, safer sports facilities or simply an air-conditioning system.

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 Sunset Park is pretty well contained within Carlos Menchaca's 38th City Council district. Just to be sure you're in the 38th, 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:

Electrical Upgrade and A.C. Wiring for School’s Gym

• Students and community members will be able to enjoy activities and community event with an improved cooling system.
• M.S. 821/M.S. 136- 4004 4th Avenue, Sunset Park
• $400,000

Split Level A.C. in Multi-Purpose Room

• A cooling system is needed in the multi-purpose room where meetings, school activities and enrichment classes are held.
• P.S. 516- 4222 4th avenue, Sunset Park
• $400,000

Auditorium Lighting and Sound Upgrade

• Enhancing the auditorium, which will include new microphones, lighting, projector, speakers and a secondary control panel.
• John J. Pershing I.S. 220- 4812 9th Avenue, Sunset Park/Borough Park
• $500,000

Security Cameras for Children Safety

• Installing surveillance cameras outside and within the school will ensure the safety of our children.
• P.S. 1- 309 47th Street, Sunset Park
• $400,000

P.S. 24 School Yard Update and Renovation

• Adding new extended gates and rubberized flooring will make the school yards a safer environment for the children.
• P.S. 24- 427 38th Street, Sunset Park
• $500,000

Schoolyard Improvement

• Repair the track and add a ramp for families to use, making it easier to access the school yard.
• P.S. 503/P.S. 506- 330 59th Street, Sunset Park
• $700,000

A/C Wiring at P.S. 94

• Rewiring of air conditioners in the classrooms. These classrooms become very uncomfortable in the warmer months.
• P.S. 94 The Henry Longfellow School, Sunset Park
• $400,000

Schoolyard Update at P.S. 69

• Installing additional schoolyard gate openings, outdoor lighting and new basketball hoops.
• P.S. 69, 6302 9th Avenue, Sunset Park/Dyker Heights
• $500,000

Handball Court Renovations

• All courts need to be resurfaced. This will provide a safe and playable environment for hundreds of handball players.
• 44th Street and 6th Avenue, Sunset Park
• $500,000