Residents may submit their ideas online by March 31
Chicago, IL – Today, at the Chicago Park District’s Annual Park Advisory Council (PAC) Conference, General Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ramirez-Rosa announced the launch of the Citywide Participatory Budget (PB) program to provide an avenue for public stake in identifying local park needs, proposing ideas for park improvements, and selecting projects with an outstanding, lasting impact on their neighborhoods.
Through this newly introduced participatory governance and community involvement process, the Park District will host an open call to engage Chicago residents and encourage them to give feedback that will help drive park project priorities and ensure park improvements are aligned with community expectations and needs citywide.
The Chicago Park District has made an inaugural investment of $500,000 to officially launch the democratic selection process at the PAC Conference on January 17. Residents, park users, and community stakeholders are invited to submit specific park improvement ideas and/or feedback for consideration by March 31, 2026 at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/PB.
“The Citywide Participatory Budget process is an empowering, innovative model that deepens community involvement, increases transparency in public spending, and strengthens resident trust in park planning and resource allocation,” said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. “We are excited to see the feedback we receive from the collective community and to continue to embolden the civic capacity of the residents that use our park spaces. This democratic process gives residents citywide a voice, ensures equitable access to participation and funding, and brings underrepresented groups to the table.”
The PB Process
Opportunities to submit specific park improvement ideas for parks across the city from January 17, 2026 through March 31, 2026 will be made available through an online form and/or at various in-person park events. After the public comment period has ended and ideas have been collected, the Chicago Park District will conduct an internal review to determine viability based on a variety of factors, including cost, and group the submission into broader project categories.
Residents will be invited to vote on the broader project categories that include feasible project scopes. In the Spring, voting for the type of park improvements the Chicago Park District will fund and implement will occur online and at various regional voting stations. Awarded projects will be announced later this year. Construction will begin Fall 2026 and continue into 2027.
Learn more
Community members are invited to learn more about the PB process during two virtual information sessions:
• January 27th at 11:30 a.m. Click here to register.
• February 3rd at 6 p.m. Click here to register.
Project Examples
Park improvements run the gamut, and to better grasp the affordability of a major project, the Park District has identified a variety of developments below:
• Tree Planting = $600 for an ornamental tree and $800 for a shade tree each
• Bench or Picnic Table = $10,000
• Drinking Fountain = $10,000
• Bleachers = $25,000
• Fieldhouse Security Cameras = $25,000
• Nature Play Space = $50,000
• Ballfield Rehab = $50,000
The Participatory Budget model originated in Porto Alegre, Brazil in the late 1980s, and has been utilized as a powerful tool for civic engagement and equitable decision-making by public and private institutions. In Chicago, PB has been used successfully in several wards, schools, and community organizations — empowering residents to shape public investments in ways that reflect local priorities and lived experiences.