From an outdoor skating rink in Summerside to community beehives in Byron, Londoners have selected 17 city-funded projects to enhance their neighbourhoods.
The winning submissions for the Neighbourhood Decision Making program were announced Tuesday. Projects with the highest price tag include an outdoor classroom and natural play space at Cedar Hollow Public School and outdoor workout equipment in Springbank Park. Winning ideas that cost the least include bat boxes in Masonville and a pollinator pathways project in west London.
"These are definitely things I don't think the city would end up doing on its own - something like bat boxes in the Masonville neighbourhood," said Councillor Josh Morgan, who championed the neighbourhood decision making pilot project in 2016. "As we know bats are very good for controlling pest populations like mosquitoes, so here is a community that wanted to put bat boxes up on poles in the neighbourhood to encourage more bats in the area. They voted for it and now it is going to happen. That is an idea that comes from citizens."
For the city-wide program, which is now in its second year, London was divided into five regions with each receiving an even split of $250,000 — $50,000 each.
Over 7,000 residents of all ages voted online and in person earlier this month on 143 ideas all dreamed up by Londoners, aimed at strengthening city neighbourhoods.The ideas were submitted over a five week period in the spring and were deemed feasible by city staff.
While the number of ideas submitted was roughly the same as the previous year, the number of people taking the time to vote on their favourite idea shot up from 4,000.
"People are embracing the concept behind neighbourhood decision making. They want to give their feedback and input. They want to have a say in shaping their neighbourhoods," said Morgan. "It is a real open opportunity for civic engagement and I am not surprised it is being embraced and the interest grows every year that we do it."
Morgan says the program will return next year.
"There is a budget for neighbourhood decision making in 2019... it has growing support and is something people want to see continue," said Morgan.
All 17 winning projects will be implemented over the next year.
Neighbourhood Decision Making winning projects:
Northwest London:
Ninja Student Drop Zone in Medway ($15,000)
Nature Sanctuary in Hyde Park ($30,000)
Bat Boxes in Masonville ($1,000)
Accessible Toddler Playground in northwest London (Shade Trees only) ($4,000)
Northeast London:
Cedar Hollow Public School Outdoor Classroom and Natural Play Space ($50,000)
Central London:
Reimagine Waste in central London ($8,000)
Bee Pollinator Garden in east London ($7,000)
Christmas Market on the Green in south London ($7,600)
Oxford Park 1901: Unique Street Sign Design for the Oxford Park Community ($7,500)
London’s Free Fruit ($5,000)
Here Before Us: Oxford Park Neighbourhood Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report ($14,260)
Pollinator Pathways Project in west London ($640)
Southwest London:
Added Swing Set in Grandview Park ($15,000)
Community Beehives in Byron ($8,000)
Outdoor Workout Equipment in Springbank Park ($27,000)
Southeast London:
F.D.Roosevelt Public School Yard Enhancements ($17,400)
Outdoor Ice Rink in Summerside ($32,600)
