Community News BY ANGELA MATUA Gaming tables, water fountains coming to Astoria Park Changes are coming to western clocks will be installed on the M60, Q18, Queeens. Q19, Q33, Q47, Q69, Q101, Q102, Q103 Residents in neighborhoods such as and Q104 bus lines. Each clock will cost Astoria, Long Island City and Sunnyside $20,000, and 682 residents voted for the cast their votes for several projects in the project. participatory budgeting process from March Boluva Park in East Elmhurst will receive 26 through April 3. Councilmen Costa $400,000 worth of upgrades to the fitness Constantinides and Jimmy Van Bramer equipment and handball courts. announced the winning projects for their “I’m very pleased by the enthusiasm that districts. the community showed during this year’s In District 22, which encompasses participatory budgeting process,” Constantinides Astoria, parts of Woodside, East Elmhurst said in a statement. “The district and Jackson Heights, residents voted has spoken, and we can see that residents most enthusiastically for a water fountain value our parks and green spaces, as well project in Astoria Park. With 709 votes, as public transportation. Seeing all the Constantinides will put $500,000 toward efforts from our budget delegates and volunteers repairing and installing water fountains shows that participatory budgeting within the park. is democracy in action.” Another project slated for the park In the 26th City Council District, Van is the installation of gaming and picnic Bramer’s constituents overwhelmingly tables. The $250,000 project received voted for a special needs playground for P4 704 votes and the Astoria community will at Skillman, a school serving kindergarten be able to choose the locations of the through eighth grades. The project, a sensory tables at a later date, a spokesperson for playground that will cater to students the councilman said. with autism, received 1,437 votes and will A total of 24 real-time bus countdown cost $250,000. Van Bramer also announced that he will allocate an additional $800,000 to the $1 million already pledged so that all of these projects can be completed. The playground at P.S. 112 in Dutch Kills will receive a $500,000 renovation and P.S. 111 in Long Island City will receive $100,000 in bathroom repairs. Basketball courts in Ravenswood and Queensbridge Houses will receive $350,000 each in repairs after 891 residents voted for the project. Constituents also voted to upgrade pedestrian safety in Dutch Kills with the installation of bus bulbs on 31st Street at 36th and 39th avenues — a $300,000 project that garnered 888 votes. “Residents came together and said loud and clear how they wanted to spend our city’s money, and every project they chose is a fantastic investment in our community,” Van Bramer said. “From school playgrounds and new basketball courts to bathroom upgrades and pedestrian safety, I’m sure these projects will make our community a better and more vibrant place to live.”
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