Winning projects unveiled in city hall's $250K 'decision-making' citizen vote
A water fountain for dogs, outdoor ice-rink upgrades and plenty of picnic tables – those are among the winning projects from a city hall-run contest that lets Londoners submit ideas to upgrade public spaces.
Article content
A water fountain for dogs, outdoor ice-rink upgrades and plenty of picnic tables – those are among the winning projects from a city hall-run contest that lets Londoners submit ideas to upgrade public spaces.
Monday, city officials announced the winners of this year’s Neighbourhood Decision Making program, which opens a total of $250,000 in funding to five parts of the city. Each region of the city receives $50,000, and each individual project is eligible for up to $30,000 in funding.
There were 326 ideas submitted by residents and neighbourhood associations. That was narrowed down to 110 for the ballot opened up to citizens for voting, and 15 winners were picked. Londoners cast 12,229 votes between Nov. 13 and 18, which officials say is a 23 per cent increase over 2022.
The winners for each region of the city are:
Central
- Outdoor exercise equipment in Gibbons Park: $30,000
- Dog-accessible water fountain in Victoria Park: $20,000
Northwest
- Boardwalk installation and trail signs in Medway environmentally significant area: $30,000
- Tree Planting at St. Nicholas Catholic elementary school: $5,000
- Picnic tables in Sherwood Forest Park: $13,000
- London’s free fruit: Creating a culture of sharing at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church: $2,000
Northeast
- Outdoor naturalized play space at Northbrae public school: $30,000
- Outdoor naturalized play space at Louise Arbour French Immersion public school: $20,000
Southwest
- Upgrades for Talbot Village outdoor ice rink: $2,000
- London’s free fruit: Creating a culture of sharing in Grand View Park: $5,000
- Outdoor movie equipment in Byron: $15,600
- Half basketball court in Jesse Davidson Park: $27,400
Southeast
- Benches and picnic tables at East Lions Park: $15,000
- Water bottle refill station in Kiwanis Park: $30,000
- Commemorative ‘buddy benches’ at Princess Anne French Immersion public school: $5,000
City hall officials say that each project is expected to be complete by the end of next year. In a statement, they describe the $250,000 contest as being “a key component in engaging Londoners to have a sense of belonging in their neighbourhoods and community.”
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.