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Read the press release here.

Flood of Voters Weigh in on $2M Slated for Sunset Park and Red Hook

 Councilman Carlos Menchaca announces the results of District 38's participatory budgeting program at Red Hook Library last year.
Councilman Carlos Menchaca announces the results of District 38's participatory budgeting program at Red Hook Library last year.
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DNAinfo/Nikhita Venugopal

BROOKLYN — More than 1,000 votes have been cast on ways to spend $2 million on neighborhood improvements, officials said.

City Councilman Carlos Menchaca’s participatory budgeting process for Red Hook and Sunset Park kicked off Saturday, April 11, allowing local residents to choose which of the 14 proposed projects they’d like to fund in District 38.

Residents ages 14 and above are eligible to vote until April 19 in the district, which also includes Greenwood Heights, South Slope, Windsor Terrace and a portion of Borough Park.

Six of this year's projects propose improvements to local schools, such as $100,000 requested to fix the wireless Internet reception at a South Slope school and $400,000 requested to renovate bathrooms at P.S. 15 and P.S. 94 in Red Hook and Sunset Park respectively.  

The most expensive proposal, which costs $965,000, would improve access to technology at nine neighborhood schools, including M.S. 88, P.S. 310 and New Voices Middle School.

Other local projects include a $200,000 proposal to expand access to free WiFi in Red Hook’s public houses by installing 50 routing devices on building rooftops.

There are also three separate $500,000 proposals that would bring upgrades to Sunset Park’s green space, including replacing a perimeter fence along Fifth Avenue, adding new benches and installing fitness equipment outside the recreation center.

Last year, the $2 million in taxpayer money paid for six neighborhood projects that included technology upgrades at two local schools and a revamped community garden behind Red Hook’s public library.

For a full list of voting sites and projects, visit this website.