City of Cambridge Participatory Budgeting

Budget Delegates meet with City staff at the second PB Speed Consulting session in October

Last week, Budget Delegates submitted 36 proposals for final vetting and cost estimates by City staff. The following list shows the proposals organized by Budget Delegate Committee.

Please note that not all of these proposals will make it to the ballot in December - some will not be deemed feasible by City staff, while others won't make the final cut by Budget Delegates since each of the five committees can only put four proposals on the ballot.  There will be a total of 20 projects on the ballot. 

The 'Bridge Builders (Culture & Community Facilities)

1. Telescopes in schools
2. Lynda.com subscription for Cambridge public libraries
3. Little free libraries for children
4. Lighting landmarks - CLS Gate
5. Mobile arts and community experiences: All-in-one mobile performance trailer with stage and equipment
6. Cambridge Street Art Trail (CSAT)
7. Lighting landmarks - Sumner Statue and island

Health, Environment & Safety

1. Install bat houses and habitat for nighthawks
2. Cleaner, greener Prospect Street (add more trash & recycling bins)
3. PVC-free nap mats for Cambridge public preschools
4. Three portable toilets
5. Drinking fountains and water bottle filling stations in parks
6. Solar panels on the Main Library
7. 2-3 electrical vehicle charging stations
8. Body camera pilot program for Cambridge police officers

Parks & Recreation

1. Danehy Park upgrades: fitness equipment, signs, dog park lights, and scoreboards
2. All-ages outdoor fitness equipment
3. Shade and wet weather canopies for playgrounds
4. Universal design: playgrounds for everyone!
5. Improve Area IV/the Port's parks (Clement Morgan Park and Paolillo Tot Lot)
6. Swimsuit dryer at the War Memorial Recreation Center
7. Urban ecology interpretive signs
8. New community garden (near Watson & Brookline or Pacific & Brookline)

Streetsmarts

1. Bench installation in Cambridge neighborhoods
2. Bike helmets for kids
3. Solar-powered real-time bus tracker displays
4. Kinetic energy tiles
5. City Alerts mobile app (for alerts about construction and traffic disruptions, street cleaning schedule, real-time snow plow locations, etc.)
6. More bike parking at the Main Library's entrance
7. Safer crosswalks for busy roads (10 pedestrian-triggered rapid flashing beacons)

Youth & Education

1. Bicycle desks
2. CRLS lunch line app (so students can pre-order lunch and cut down lines)
3. Redo the Moore Youth Center (new furniture, printers, speakers, and a laminator)
4. Wireless speakers in Youth Centers and Jefferson Park classroom
5. Free public wifi in Columbia Park
6. Citywide wifi spots

The final 20 projects that will appear on the ballot will be announced shortly before Thanksgiving. Please mark your calendar now for PB Vote Week: December 3-9, 2016!