Participatory Budget Committee

Participatory Budget Program Cycle 1 Voting Results

Voting results from the City of Asbury Park’s first Participatory Budget program were announced by Mayor and Council at the 4/12/23 City Council meeting. The program allowed residents age 14 and older to vote on how to spend $250,000 in capital funds to improve community spaces. Almost 900 resident votes were received by mail, drop off and online. Voters were able to choose between 14 project ideas listed on the ballot. 

The winning project idea is the creation of art park benches (229 votes). Work will begin on finalizing details and costs of the idea, as well as securing any required approvals prior to implementation. Once final costs are determined, additional projects may be funded. 

Cycle 1 Results 


Park Benches: Art Benches (229)

Playground Improvements: Sunset Lake Park (200)

Deal Lake Improvements (109)

Dog Park: Library Square Park (96)

St. John’s Island Pavilion (67)

Dog Park: Main St and 7th Ave (51)       

Boat Ramps/Launches/Docks (35)

Outside Exercise Equipment (27)

Playground Improvements: Library Square Park (22)         

Kayak Storage Racks (17) 

Dog Park: Springwood Ave (16)                              

Bike Repair Station (13)    

Fountains & Statues (7)   

Park Benches: Standard Benches (6)


Cycle 1 Project Presentations

To view PDF files of the presentations, click here.

View the video below of the 3/15 Public Meeting where project proposals were
presented.
 




What is Participatory Budgeting?


Participatory Budgeting, a democratic process where community members recommend to their government how to spend part of the public budget, is currently practiced in over 3,000 cities around the world, mostly at the municipal level. The process allows for the equitable distribution of funds through direct resident representation and input from community members.

Mayor and City Council launched the City of Asbury Park Participatory Budget Program to directly involve residents, ages 14 and older, in deciding how to spend $250,000 of the City’s budget. Residents submit their ideas for a capital project to improve community spaces, such as improvements to parks, gardens, playground equipment, lights, sidewalks, streets, alleys, bike lanes, etc. All projects are then presented at a public meeting to be voted on by the community. Projects that receive the most votes are adopted into the City’s budget. 

The Participatory Budget Committee, comprised of local residents and City staff, facilitate the process by consolidating similar ideas, determining feasibility, establishing a budget and outlining a proposal for each project. 

To be considered for the ballot, all proposed projects must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be capital projects which will serve the general public’s benefit
  • Must have an expected five years life or more 
  • Must have a low or relatively low maintenance cost 
  • Must be on public property such as parks, borough buildings (not school property)  streets and sidewalks. 

Click here for an interactive map of City-owned property. For a PDF of the map, click here.

APPLICATION & COMMITTEE MEMBERS