Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process where community members decide how to spend a portion of public funds. It’s a way for YOU — community members, park users, and neighbors — to have a direct say in how money is invested in your park. At the Chicago Park District we are implementing Participatory Budgeting via a citywide process and park-specific processes, funded through revenue from large events that take place at that park. Learn more about our citywide process and park-specific processes here.
Quick Links: Citywide | Park-Specific Processes
Citywide Participatory Budget
Summary
In 2026, the Chicago Park District (CPkD) is launching a Citywide Participatory Budget (PB) process to deepen community engagement, increase transparency in public spending, and strengthen community trust in park planning and resource allocation.
Through this initiative, community members, park users, and community stakeholders will be invited to submit specific park improvement ideas for parks across the city. CPkD will evaluate the ideas for viability and then group the ideas submitted into broader project categories, for instance Public Safety or Environment, to track the general types of projects being requested by the community. Community members will then vote on which broader categories they would most like the Park District to prioritize for funding initiatives.
The winning category or categories will guide how CPkD allocates the PB capital funds. Projects submitted by individuals within the winning category will be evaluated for feasibility of the proposed scope and availability of budget to complete the project. As many feasible projects as possible will be implemented with the funding available. Following a PB model ensures that implemented park improvements reflect the collective priorities of Chicago’s communities.
$500,000 Investment
Your input provided during this participatory budget process will help guide investment across the District. As a goal of this initial pilot program, the District intends to advance approximately nine (9) proposed projects with an estimated value of roughly $50,000 each.
The District’s goal is to distribute these projects equitably, with approximately three (3) projects from the North Region, three (3) from the Central Region, and three (3) from the South Region, subject to feasibility, available funding, and final approvals.
Phases
- Idea Collection: Completed March 2026
From January 17 - March 31, 2026, community members submitted more than 1,000 ideas for park improvements across the city. - Feasibility of Projects: Completed June 2026
The Chicago Park District reviewed each submitted idea to determine whether it was feasible, grouped feasible ideas into broader project categories, and developed project scopes for the ballot. View the list of feasible ideas. -
Citywide Vote: July 27 - August 27, Vote Below
Community members vote on the broader project categories they want prioritized, guiding which types of improvements the Chicago Park District will fund and implement.
Why aren't all submitted ideas included?
Thank you to everyone who shared ideas during the Citywide Participatory Budgeting Idea Collection phase. We received more than 1,000 ideas from community members across Chicago.
Every idea was carefully reviewed by Chicago Park District staff to determine whether it could be funded through Participatory Budgeting (PB). Some ideas were not included on the feasible ideas list because they were already planned or underway, were routine maintenance or work order requests, exceeded the available PB budget, programming, or could not be completed through the PB program.
The feasible ideas list represents the ideas that can move forward in the Citywide Participatory Budgeting process.
Current Status: Citywide Vote
VOTE NOW
The Chicago Park District is giving community members a direct voice in deciding future park improvements through Citywide Participatory Budgeting (PB). Community members submitted over 1,000 ideas. Now it's time to vote on what category should be funded.
Vote by ranking the project categories in order of preference. The category receiving the most votes will be funded, and at least nine projects under this category will be completed throughout the Central, North, and South Regions.
Voting runs July 27–August 27. Vote online now, or in-person at any Park District fieldhouse. Every vote helps shape future investments in Chicago parks. Participants must be at least 13 years of age and Chicago residents to vote.
Project Cost Examples
Curious what park improvements cost? These sample price ranges help you understand what different types of projects may cost—so you can submit ideas that are realistic, impactful, and ready to be considered through Citywide Participatory Budgeting.
- Tree Planting - $600 - $800
$600 for an ornamental tree and $800 for a shade tree each. - Perennial Flower Bed (5x5 ft.) - $1,000 - $5,000
Cost does not include water infrastructure to care for the garden. - Bench or Picnic Table - $10,000
New ADA-accessible bench or picnic table on concrete pad. - Drinking Fountain - $10,000
New ADA-accessible drinking fountain with bottle filler (pending available existing water service). - Bleachers - $25,000
New ADA-accessible patron viewer bleachers at a sports field. - Fieldhouse Security Cameras - $25,000
Install new indoor fieldhouse security system. - Ballfield Rehab -$50,000
Resize and regrade a baseball or softball infield. - Nature Play Space - $50,000 average
New outdoor nature play area for children. Cost varies by size of play area. Additional community approvals required.
Larger projects, including new playgrounds, spray features, turf fields and fieldhouses are not recommended for the PB program as those costs exceed the Participatory Budget available. We still want to hear your ideas, though! For larger budget suggestions, please submit your ideas via the Capital Improvement Plan Suggestion Form.
Examples of costs for these larger projects are:
- Court Rehab - $100,000 per court
Full renovation of a basketball or tennis court including asphalt, color coating, access paving, nets, fencing as needed. - Pathway Paving - $100,000 average
Repave existing park pathways to include accessibility. Cost varies by size of park. - Athletic Field Lighting - $200,000
New outdoor sports lighting. - Playground Resurfacing - $250,000 average
New rubber soft surfacing and minor playground equipment upgrades as needed. Cost varies by size of playground. - Spray Feature - $350,000 average
New interactive outdoor water play feature. Cost varies by size of spray feature.
Steering Committee
Steering Committee members will help guide the PB process, support idea collection and project development, and ensure it’s fair, inclusive, and community-driven — no experience is necessary, just a passion for your neighborhood. The interest form is now closed. Thanks to all who expressed interest in being a part of the Steering Committee.
Learn More
- How many ideas can a person submit during the Idea Collection phase?
There is no limit to the number of ideas a person may submit; however, each idea only needs to be submitted once to be considered.
- How many times can a person vote for project categories during the Citywide Participatory Budget vote?
You may only vote once. However, the ballot will be ranked-choice style, in which you can rank the project categories in order of preference, allowing your vote to support multiple options based on how you prioritize them.
- How can people vote?
You may vote online at ChicagoParkDistrict.com/citywide-participatory-budget.
You may vote using the kiosks at fieldhouses in which kiosks are available.
You may vote by completing a printed copy of the Idea Collection form available at any of the Chicago Park District fieldhouses. Please submit your Idea Collection form to the Park Supervisor.
- What makes a person eligible to vote for the Citywide Participatory Budget category?
Any community member age 13 or older is eligible to vote.
- How many project categories can you vote for?
You may vote for up to three categories.
- If a park has existing capital improvement plans, would that affect the implementation of a PB project at the same park?
No. If there is an existing project already planned in the same park, the additional PB scope may be included in that project for efficiencies.
- What kinds of projects are eligible?
Eligible projects include park amenities and infrastructure improvements, including but not limited to, seating, lighting, or play features.
- What is the time commitment for the Steering Committee?
There is no fixed time commitment for the Citywide Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee. The process requires flexibility, as the workload may vary depending on the phase of PB (e.g., idea collection, feasibility review, or voting). Members should be prepared to attend regular meetings and support key activities, understanding that time commitments may increase during busier stages of the process.
- Can Citywide PB Steering Committee members submit project ideas and vote on project categories?
Yes, Citywide PB Steering Committee members submit project ideas and vote on Project Categories.
- Where do the Citywide PB funds come from?
The Citywide PB funds come from a portion of the Chicago Park District’s capital infrastructure budget.
- What if my project idea cost more than what is available in PB funds?
If your project idea costs more than what is available in PB funds, please submit your idea here.
- Do I need to have a cost estimate on a project idea?
No, cost estimates are not required.
- How are the categories going to be selected for the projects?
Chicago Park District staff will categorize the projects under umbrella themes, which will all depend on what ideas are submitted initially and which of those are feasible and align with Park District guidelines. The Steering Committee will review the categories before the ballot is finalized.
- What is in place to ensure that PB funds are distributed equitably?
For this initial pilot program, the projects will be distributed geographically with a goal of three winning projects for each of the Park District Regions – North, Central and South.
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How is the Chicago Park District going to reach low-income folks?
We are casting a wide net to ensure broad awareness and participation in Citywide Participatory Budgeting. Paper copies of the Idea Collection Form are available at all fieldhouses and distributed at community engagement events. Project Category Voting Ballots will also be available at fieldhouses and community events once we begin the voting phase.In addition, we are reaching people where they already gather by tabling at neighborhood town halls, community wellness events, resource fairs, job fairs, hiring events, youth job fairs, school events, and job search cafés across the city. This includes partnerships with community organizations, workforce programs, and local institutions to ensure residents who may not otherwise hear about the process have an opportunity to participate.
We are also promoting Citywide PB through billboards across the city and via earned media on English- and Spanish-language TV. Finally, we are relying on community members and park users to help spread the word and encourage others to participate.
- How will implementation statuses be communicated and how often?
Project statuses will be updated on the Park District Website (https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/PB). The cadence of updates will be dependent on the projects selected for implementation.
- Is there a limit to how many projects get implemented at one park?
For this pilot project, the intent is for projects to be implemented in nine (9) different parks.
- How are Alderpeople involved in this process?
We are sharing information on Citywide PB to aldermanic offices so that they can share with their constituents.
- How can I apply to join the Citywide PB Steering Committee?
The application deadline was March 13, 2026.
- Is the PAC the only group that is allowed to present the PB process to community members?
No, anyone can present this Citywide PB process to community members.
- Will Park District staff be trained on the Citywide PB process?
Yes, Park District staff are now trained on the Citywide PB process.
- How many slots are open on the Steering Committee?
There are 10 slots on the Steering Committee.
- Will there be future PB cycles?
That is the plan!
View the webinar below to learn more about the Citywide Participatory Budgeting process.
Park Specific Processes
While Chicagoans are invited to submit project ideas for all of our 600 parks, some parks have park-specific projects that have their own PB process funded via revenue from the large festivals and events hosted at their parks.
How It Works
The Participatory Budgeting process happens in several key steps:
- Steering Committee Formation
A group of community members and stakeholders guide the PB process, helping shape the rules and ensure it's fair and inclusive. - Idea Collection
Community members submit ideas for how to improve the park. - Proposal Development
Volunteers and staff at the Chicago Park District help turn ideas into real project proposals with costs and designs. - Community Vote
Everyone gets to vote on the projects they want to see funded. The projects with the most votes get funded and built!
Why It Matters
Participatory Budgeting is about equity, transparency, and community power. It’s a way to bring neighbors together to reimagine public space — and make it happen. It ensures that community voices are leading the way in shaping how public dollars are spent.
Get Involved!
Whether you’re interested in sharing ideas, volunteering, voting, or helping spread the word — there’s a place for you in the PB process.
Parks
Project Status: Proposal Development
Volunteers and Chicago Park District staff work to help turn ideas into real project proposals with costs and designs.
Project Status: Proposal Development
Volunteers and Chicago Park District staff work to help turn ideas into real project proposals with costs and designs.
