Participatory Budgeting

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.

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.

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.

Any community member age 13 or older is eligible to vote.

You may vote for up to three categories. 

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.

Eligible projects include park amenities and infrastructure improvements, including but not limited to, seating, lighting, or play features.

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.

Yes, Citywide PB Steering Committee members submit project ideas and vote on Project Categories.

The Citywide PB funds come from a portion of the Chicago Park District’s capital infrastructure budget.

If your project idea costs more than what is available in PB funds, please submit your idea here.

No, cost estimates are not required. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.  

For this pilot project, the intent is for projects to be implemented in nine (9) different parks.  

We are sharing information on Citywide PB to aldermanic offices so that they can share with their constituents. 

You may fill out this form. Deadline is March 13th.

No, anyone can present this Citywide PB process to community members.  

Yes, Park District staff are now trained on the Citywide PB process. 

There are 9 slots on the Steering Committee. 

That is the plan!