Science & Nature
Vote Now to Tell the Chicago Park District How to Spend $500k of Your Money
An ADA-accessible drinking fountain, with bottle filler, is among the type of projects the Chicago Park District is expecting to fund through a pilot participatory budgeting program. (Courtesy of Chicago Park District)
The Chicago Park District has unveiled its final slate of candidates vying for $500,000 in participatory budgeting funds, and now it’s up to the public to decide where the money will go.
Voting opened Monday and runs through August 27. People can cast a ballot online or in-person at any Park District fieldhouse.
After announcing the participatory program in January, the Park District received more than 1,000 project ideas from community members. Those proposals were then grouped into categories and winnowed to the final four. Whichever category receives the most votes wins. The $500,000 will then be split among approximately nine projects — three each in the district’s north, south and central regions.
The categories are:
— Accessibility, public safety and inclusion. Examples include ADA-accessible playground equipment, ramps, lighting and security cameras.
— Recreation infrastructure, such as a ball field or sports court rehab.
— Permanent fixtures and park amenities, including benches, picnic tables and bike racks.
— Nature and beautification, such as trees, pollinator gardens and nature play spaces.
Officials expect to announce awarded projects later this year. Construction should begin in fall and continue into 2027.
Contact Patty Wetli: [email protected]
