Chicagoans can now pitch and pick their own park upgrades, as the Chicago Park District opens a citywide participatory budgeting process that asks residents to propose and vote on local park projects. The program launched at the Park Advisory Council on Saturday and starts with a $500,000 seed fund that will be distributed across neighborhoods. Residents can submit ideas for improvements at any of the district's roughly 600 parks through March 31. District officials say winning project categories will be chosen in a citywide vote this spring, with construction on selected projects slated to begin in fall 2026.
According to Chicago Park District, the initiative was unveiled at the agency's Annual Park Advisory Council and kicks off with an inaugural $500,000 investment. The district says residents can submit specific park improvement ideas online or at in-person events through March 31, after which staff will assess feasibility and group submissions into broader project categories. The process is meant to let communities set priorities for capital funds and ensure projects reflect neighborhood needs.
“The Citywide Participatory Budget process is an empowering, innovative model that deepens community involvement,” Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez‑Rosa said in the Chicago Park District release. The announcement lays out a three step timeline: idea collection, staff feasibility review, then a citywide vote. The district says it will try to implement as many feasible projects as funds allow.
How The Process Will Work
As reported by CBS News, idea collection runs through March 31, and the district expects voting to take place online and at regional stations in the spring. After the vote, the Park District will select feasible projects from the winning categories and announce awards later this year.
Where The Funding Comes From
The initial $500,000 is an inaugural allocation from the Park District, but officials have also tied participatory budgets to event revenue in the past. WBEZ reported that a three year Riot Fest agreement included roughly $900,000 to $1.2 million earmarked for Douglass Park that residents would help allocate through a participatory budgeting process.
How To Get Involved
Residents who want to take part are encouraged to prepare short, realistic project ideas and submit them by March 31. The district is also hosting virtual information sessions at the end of January and the first week of February to walk through the process. Voting will follow in the spring, and the Park District says it will try to move forward on awarded projects in fall 2026. For full details and the submission form, see the Chicago Park District's participatory budgeting materials.
