The theme for PB 360 in the 2017 Action Plan was "Public Parks." 2017 marked the first year of Participatory Budgeting (PB) in Niagara Falls with $360,000 of HUD CDBG funds. Known as "PB 360," this effort was the second instance of using CDBG funds for PB in the nation. PB360 is an advancement of the participatory process already employed by NF CD for its yearly action plans and used the 2013 Parks Master Plan (also created out of public participation) as a starting point.
The goal was to decide where and what should our next parks improvements be. Members of the public provided ideas at two brainstorm sessions in June 2017. Those ideas were refined into ten ballot items that went to public vote. Voting was held at public events and in public places throughout August 2017 in an effort to engage people where they are. The votes were tallied and the highest vote-getter recevied funding and the process was repeated until $360,000 of project budgeting was reached. Below are the funded projects:
Gill Creek Park - Basketball Court along Royal Ave - 102 votes - $15,000
Hyde Park - Basketball Court - 99 votes - $25,000
Hyde Park - New Playground Pod - 93 votes - $75,000
Liberty Park - Replace Playground Set - 85 votes - $200,000
Hyde Park - New Shelter - 81 votes - $10,000
The next budgeted item caused the budgeted amount to be over $360,000. With remaining funds and after the funded projects are complete, any money left over will be used to fund the following projects:
Gluck Park - Security Lighting - 77 votes - $75,000
Hyde Park - Walking Path Benches - 65 votes - $8,000
Jerauld Park - Walking Path Construction - 61 votes - $20,000
Jerauld Park - Horseshoe Pit Construction - 39 votes - $1,000
Wright Park - Tree Planting - 16 votes - $1,000
If you have any questions, please contact Jarrett Steffen, Compliance Officer, at jarrett.steffen@niagarafallsny.gov or by calling (716) 286-8811.
"City in a Park" Citywide Parks Master Plan
In 2013, the City engaged in a public participation process to create a master plan for city parks in Niagara Falls. PB 360 looks to use this master plan as a jumping off point for discussion in the participatory budgeting brainstorming sessions. Residents are welcome to reference the "City in a Park" documents below to initiate discussion and idea development.
"City in a Park" City of Niagara Falls 2013 Citywide Parks Master Plan
Appendix A - A Historical Perspective of the Park System
Appendix B - Community Engagement Summary
Appendix C - Park Summary Sheets
Appendix D - Recreation Stakeholder Input
Appendix E - Analysis Maps
Appendix F - Individual Park Master Plans
Appendix G - Opinion of Probable Costs
