Winners Of District 7 Participatory Budgeting For 2024 Announced

After two weeks of voting by District 7 residents, Supervisor Myrna Melgar announced Tuesday the winners of this year’s participatory budgeting projects, including revamping Westwood Park's pillars and gates and adding picnic tables at Commodore Sloat Elementary School.

Besides restoring the pillars and entrance gates, the project will include adding two bronze landmark plaques and landscaping around the gates. Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors deemed the pillars and gates as historic landmarks with legislation sponsored by Melgar. The funds allocated to the project are $25,750.

Another project proposal that is moving forward and will receive $25,000 in funding is removing the wooden planks with four round tables at Commodore Sloat Elementary School. Details of the project said the new tables will provide more seating for students and neighbors.

Other winning proposals will focus on improving traffic safety and slowing down traffic. At the intersection of Monterey Boulevard and St. Elmo Way, the project calls on spending $25,000 to install calming measures to slow down vehicular traffic. Installing traffic calming measures on Yerba Buena Avenue was another winning proposal and will receive $50,000.

At Monterey Boulevard and Gennessee Street, a proposal to install two benches on the sidewalk at the 23 Monterey bus stop is moving forward with $18,875 for the project. The benches will allow Muni passengers to sit while they wait for the bus.

A proposal to build a public parklet on Hearst Avenue, known as “Slow Hearst,” is also one of the winning projects that will receive $50,000. The parklet will have tables, benches, plants and artwork.

In total, 15 projects will receive funding as part of the participatory budget process this year. The Participatory Budgeting process allows community members to propose ideas and vote on projects funded by city tax dollars. Melgar announced the full list of projects receiving funding on social media.