Pedestrian Safety, Teen Equipment Among Winning Participatory Budgeting Projects

Durham residents voted and now city officials are moving forward with five winning projects in the latest phase of the city’s participatory budgeting process.

On Thursday, Durham City Council members received a presentation of the top five projects, voted on by residents 13 and older. The city has $2.4 million to spend in this third phase. The winning proposals include:

• Pedestrian safety on East Trinity Avenue: For an estimated $990,000, the city will install pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures such as sidewalks, crosswalks, and signage on East Trinity Avenue from North Roxboro Street to Avondale Avenue.
• Lighting at parks: For an estimated $888,000, the city will add outdoor lighting to improve safety and extend hours at Morreene Road Park, Holton Career and Resource Center, and Edison Johnson Recreation Center parking lot.
• Teen equipment at recreation centers: For an estimated $85,000, the city will upgrade equipment, including computers and games, at the Durham Teen Center at Lyon Park, Holton Career and Resource Center, Walltown Recreation Center, W.D. Hill Recreation Center, and Weaver Street Recreation Center.
• Sustainable improvements to parks: For an estimated $1110,000, the city will install water bottle-filling stations, bike repair stations, and solar power-charging stations to improve sustainability and encourage physical activity at C.M. Herndon Park, Duke Park, Lyon Park, Merrick-Moore Park, Solite Park, Twin Lakes Park, and Westover Park.
• Security measures for Durham Housing Authority properties: For an estimated $110,000, the city will install resident-requested safety improvements, including cameras, deadbolt locks, and improved lighting in the Cornwallis Road Community and Preiss-Steele Place.

Next step: Project implementation, which is slated to begin this winter and spring.

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