Woodhaven residents gather in February to discuss ideas on how to best spend at least $1 million in city funds for the area. File photo
Would you like to see some of Woodhaven Boulevard repaved? What about fixing flooding issues? New fencing and signage at the Forest Park dog park?
Residents living in the Community Board 9 portion of Councilman Eric Ulrich’s (R-Ozone Park) district, including Woodhaven, Ozone Park, and Richmond Hill, will be able to cast their ballots the week of March 31 to decide how to spend $1 million in city funding for their neighborhoods as part of a process called participatory budgeting.
Ten Council members are involved in this year’s participatory budgeting process, which aims to get individuals more directly involved with the city government by allowing residents to come up with projects they would like to see funded and then vote on which of the plans will become reality.
Residents in Ulrich’s district who also reside in CB 9 will be permitted to vote for their top five projects from a list of nine proposals. Voting will be held from March 31 through April 5 at various locations.
The projects on the ballot include $300,000 to mill and pave two miles of Woodhaven Boulevard; $50,000 for new signage for hiking trails in Forest Park; $450,000 to fix flooding issues and repave a parking lot in the 102nd Precinct; $80,000 to install real time bus countdown clocks at four bus stops in the CB 9 area; $100,000 for technology upgrades at PS 273 in Richmond Hill; $91,000 for Smart boards at PS 60 in Woodhaven; $100,000 for audio/visual upgrades to the auditorium in PS 64 in Ozone Park; and $85,000 to replace school yard fencing at JHS 210 in Ozone Park.
There is $100,000 for new fencing and signage at the Forest Park dog run; $300,000 for a complete renovation and replacement of Giovanelli Playground in Forest Park; $100,000 for interior upgrades at Richmond Hill Library; and $150,000 to repave pathways in Forest Park adjacent to the Schaffer Memorial.
The $300,000 for the Giovanelli Playground would be in addition to $1 million allocated by the borough president to fully fund the project.
Residents may vote at Ulrich’s office, located at 93-06 101st Ave. in Ozone Park, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
They may also vote at the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association office at 84-20 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents can head to Our Neighbor’s Civic Association at Christ Lutheran Center, located at 85-15 101st Ave. in Ozone Park, to vote on Tuesday from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Additionally, individuals can cast ballots at the Richmond Hill Block Association, located at 110-08 Jamaica Ave., on Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call Ulrich’s office at (718) 738-1038.
By Anna Gustafson
