North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Greensboro residents voted to fully fund 20 projects and programs and partially funded two more during Participatory Budgeting (PB) Cycle 4, which ended October 15.
A citywide initiative to install lily-pad style seating at 25 bus stops received the most votes in every city council district this year as well as a plan to fund an environmental scan to identify historically significant neighborhoods and to deploy sign toppers that indicate a heritage community.
Residents had up to $100,000 to spend per district and staff evaluated whether the project could be partially completed if the budget was inadequate.
The following projects received the most votes in each district, and will be sent to City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba for inclusion in the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget:
District 1
- Bus Stop Seating – $5,000
- Bus Shelter at Randleman and Creek Ridge Roads – $10,000
- Glenwood Community Park Improvements – $7,000
- Heritage Community Environmental Scan – $5,000
- Steelman Park Improvements – $23,100
- Woodlea Park Improvements* – $32,900
District 2
- Bus Stop Seating – $5,000
- Smith Center Community Park Improvements – $30,000
- Heritage Community Environmental Scan – $5,000
District 3
- Bus Stop Seating – $5,000
- Heritage Community Environmental Scan – $5,000
- Lake Daniel Park Feasibility Study – $25,000
- Bog Garden Benches – $11,000
District 4
- Bus Stop Seating – $5,000
- Lindell Road Park Additions – $10,450
- Heritage Community Environmental Scan – $5,000
District 5
- Bus Stop Seating – $5,000
- Bus Shelters at Groometown Road and W. Gate City Boulevard – $30,000
- Griffin Recreation Center Solar Charging Station – $30,000
- Leonard Recreation Center Baseball Field Repairs* – $25,000
PB allows residents 14 and older to decide how to spend up to $100,000 per City Council district. Some 2,118 residents voted during PB Cycle 4, which ended October 15.
City Council will consider the PB budget next spring. The fiscal year 2023-2024 budget goes into effect July 1, 2023.