City of Cambridge Participatory Budgeting

This summer, the City began the ninth PB process in Cambridge. In June and July, community members submitted more than 1,320 ideas for how to spend $1 million of the FY24 capital budget to improve Cambridge. From August 2022 through November 2022, volunteer residents distilled and developed those ideas into proposals to meet community needs. From December 1-11, Cambridge residents voted for their favorite PB projects, and the results will be announced at the Cambridge Citywide Senior Center on Wednesday, December 14.

The following 8 projects won $1,065,000 in FY23 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 are 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

• Community members brainstorm and submit IDEAS (June 1-July 31, 2022)
• Volunteer Budget Delegates turn ideas into project PROPOSALS (August-November 2022)
• City staff vet proposals for FEASIBILITY and COST (November 2022)
• Residents VOTE on which projects they’d like the City to fund (December 1-11, 2022)
• RESULTS are announced and winning projects are included in the City’s FY23 Capital Budget (December 14, 2022)
• Projects are IMPLEMENTED (July 1, 2023, onward)

Idea Collection

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

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