A gaga ball pit for Hazeldon Park, dog-accessible water fountains in Victoria Park, and outdoor movie equipment for Byron are among the ideas Londoners have put forward to better their neighbourhoods.
City officials have released the list of proposed projects residents will be voting on in London's sixth annual Neighbourhood Decision Making program. The initiative sees the city divided into five geographic areas, with each receiving $50,000 to spend on projects dreamed up by Londoners to enhance the liveability and enjoyment of their neighbourhood. The cost of each project pitched has to be $30,000 or less. This allows residents to have more than one funded in central, northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest London each year.
Residents were asked to submit ideas between August 21 and September 29. A total of 326 ideas were sent to the city, with 110 deemed feasible by city staff. Those ideas have since been turned into project proposals that Londoners will be able to vote for.
Voting will open November 13 and continue until November 18. It is open to all age groups online, in-person, and over the phone.- Up to three ideas can be selected on a single ballot.
"The Neighbourhood Decision Making program is a testament to our dedication to empowering residents to shape their neighbourhoods," said Mayor Josh Morgan. “I encourage Londoners to vote for their favourite idea and make a positive impact on our community's future.”
Last year, nearly 10,000 people voted to make 24 projects a reality in the city. Winning submissions included a bike repair station along the Thames Valley Parkway, a free little Arabic library, and upgrades to the Kiwanis Park baseball fields.
The full list of feasible ideas for each of the five areas of the city with detailed descriptions and estimated cost overview can be found at getinvolved.london.ca/ndm.
