City of Cambridge Participatory Budgeting

The City of Cambridge launched the 9th Cycle of Participatory Budgeting (PB9) in 2022. Between June and July, community members submitted 1,320 ideas for how to spend $1 million on one-time capital projects to improve Cambridge. From August through November, volunteer PB Delegates researched all submitted project ideas and developed the final proposals for the PB9 vote. Between December 1-11 2022, 8,707 Cambridge residents age 12 and older voted to decide how to allocate capital funding to address community needs.

Status of Winning PB9 Projects

The $1,065,000 in FY24 capital funds for the PB9 winning projects became available on July 1, 2023. The Budget Office will continue to update this information as City departments work to complete each project. The following 8 projects won $1,065,000 in FY23 Capital Funding:

Project Installation Details:

• The Pemberton Street Mural has just recently been completed! Join the Cambridge Arts Council and the artists of the Pemberton Street Mural for their unveiling celebration on October 19th, 2023. See event details HERE.

PB Cycle 9 Results

The following 8 projects won$1,065,000 in FY24 Capital Funding:

1. Trees for Danehy Park and Cambridge ($100,000)
2. Technology for Youth Centers ($250,000)
3. Look and Listen: Safer Crossing for Cambridge ($180,000)
4. Smart Recycling and Trash Compactors ($40,000)
5. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations ($250,000)
6. E-cargo Bikes for Watering Trees ($25,000)
7. More Outdoor Public Wi-fi ($100,000)
8. Three New Public Art Murals ($120,000)

Thank you to the 8,707 residents that voted, setting a new Cambridge PB turnout record. The full vote totals are:

Special thanks to the City Manager for fully funding the eighth winning project!

Here are the 20 projects on the PB9 ballot that were eligible for funding:

1. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations ($250,000)
2. Finding your way at Danehy Park ($75,000)
3. Visual Communication Boards in Playgrounds ($20,000)
4. Trees for Danehy Park and Cambridge ($100,000)
5. Bike Parking and Bike Repair Stations ($100,000)
6. Outdoor Gym ($130,000)
7. Let’s Play Pickleball ($60,000)
8. Three New Public Art Murals ($120,000)
9. Enhance The Moore Youth Center Exterior ($100,000)
10. Basketball Renovations ($275,000)
11. Let’s Play Chess ($35,000)
12. Digital Map for Navigating Cambridge ($60,000)
13. Sit and Recharge in the Shade ($100,000)
14. Smart Recycling and Trash Compactors ($40,000)
15. More Outdoor Public Wi-fi ($100,000)
16. Technology for Youth Centers ($250,000)
17. E-cargo Bikes for Watering Trees ($25,000)
18. Expand Access to Bluebikes ($175,000)
19. Automatic Doors for Libraries ($150,000)
20. Look and Listen: Safer Crossing for Cambridge ($180,000)

(Projects are listed in random order)

Proposal Development

From August-November, 60+ PB Delegates will work in five committees to research, assess, and prioritize all of the submitted ideas and ultimately develop the following 20 final proposals for the December 2022 PB ballot.

Read the PB9 Budget Delegate Guide to find out more about the proposal development process.

PB Cycle 9 Timeline

• June 1 - July 31, 2022 - Community members brainstorm and submit IDEAS about how to spend $1 million of the City's FY24 Budget on capital projects to improve Cambridge
• August - November 2022 - Volunteer PB delegates will work in committees to research and develop submitted ideas into project proposals for the PB Ballot.
• November 2022 - City staff vet proposals for FEASIBILITY and COST.  
• December 1-11, 2022 – Residents VOTE on which projects they’d like the City to fund. All Cambridge residents age 12 and older can vote, regardless of citizenship status. 
• December 14, 2022 - RESULTS are announced and winning projects are included in the City’s FY24 Capital Budget.
• July 2023 onward - Winning projects are implemented.

Idea Collection

To read all of the ideas that were submitted in the ninth PB cycle, please click the map below:

Click here to sign up and stay informed about the PB9 Cycle.