Participatory Budgeting Projects
In the Summer of 2022, residents voted on projects for Mecklenburg County to implement that were identified by groups of citizens within each Commissioner District. The County is working to implement the projects that received the highest votes. Below is a summary of the status for each projects as of December 2024.
| District 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Amount | Status | Estimated Completion (Fiscal Year Quarter) |
| Classroom Resources | $125,000 | The County engaged local nonprofit Classroom Central to assist with implementing this project. The vendor developed 'supply kits' which were distributed to 1,323 school teachers in District 1. The supply kits contained a variety of classroom essentials and were mailed directly to 40 District 1 schools in February. | Complete |
| Pollination of Green Space | $10,000 | 24-acres at Clarks' Creek Nature Preserve and Park have been planted with pollinator species. | Complete |
| Food Fridges | $15,000 | Public Health worked with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council (CMFPC) to facilitate the delivery and installation of commercial refrigerators in three locations: 1) Hope House (North Huntersville); 2)Lake Norman Community Clinic NOTE: the name change to Cook Community Clinic; 3)Community Care Center -Cornelius /Davidson. The direct access community fridges supplement food baskets for low income and food insecure households or individuals. | Complete |
| Food Bank Pilot | $120,000 | Final project updates: Ada Jenkins – Completed their second 10-week cooking demonstration/tasting; participants receive "meal kits" of ingredients and recipes to cook healthy meals sampled during the demonstration—total number of participants for the second quarter: 58. Funding was also used in December to purchase an industrial refrigerator for their food pantry. Angels and Sparrows – reached 241 households to receive fresh produce in Huntersville. Bags of Hope – 3,670 food bags were distributed to 967 students. | Complete |
| North Meck Manufacturing Internships | $125,000 | The Manufacturing Internships and Support program through Lake Norman Economic Development is officially named "Pivot Project". Through the initiative, Lake Norman Economic Development was able to place 19 students from Huff, Hopewell, and Mallard Creek into paid summer internships with Manufctuering companies located in North Mecklenburg. Companies included Champion Wheel & tire, Daetwyler, Forbo, Metrolina Greenhouse, and Burhert. There were 8 students placed at Chamopion Wheel & Tire. 7 of the 8 were offered employment. | Complete |
| Farmers Market at North Regional | $25,000 | Public Health worked with Charlotte Mecklenburg Food Policy Council and Parks & Recreation to implement a farmers market at the Northern Regional Recreation Center. The North Meck Community Farmers Market operated every Wednesday from 9am to 1pm from May until October 4. The market was one of two sites for the inaugural Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, implemented in collaboration with DSS Senior Citizen Nutrition Program, NCDHHS and Public Health (Food Security). Eligible seniors received $50 vouchers to purchase fruits and vegetables. NMCFM was run by CMFPC; Mecklenburg County Public Health provided funding for SNAP double bucks; and Parks and Rec provided free commuter shuttles. | Complete |
| Finance Seminars and Homeownership Classes | $15,000 | Commonwealth Charlotte completed three financial seminars for high school students participating in Lake Norman Economic Development's PIVOT Program. | Complete |
| Rewild our World Pollinator Meadows | $50,000 | $30k of native seeds has been purchased to pursue additional projects in parks and greenways in District 1. McDowell Creek Greenway, Clarks Creek and Buckeye Cove Nature Preserve are likely locations for new seeding by 2nd Quarter FY25. | 2nd quarter of FY25 |
| District 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Amount | Status | Estimated Completion (Fiscal Year Quarter) |
| Accessibility Repairs/Modifications for Senior Citizens | $125,000 | A contract has been approved for the repair work in conjunction with other home repair programs. Approximately $13K in repairs have been completed. The Affordable Housing Program Manager is working with vendors to complete the projects in the upcoming year. | 2nd quarter of FY25 |
| Urban MicroFood Forest | $30,000 | Fruit trees will be planted at the Amay James in Q2-Q4 FY25. | 2nd - 4th quarter of FY25 |
| Community Educational Resource Center | $90,000 | All computers have been received by IT and are being imaged. Data lines have been installed. Computer lab furniture has been received. Labs are operational, but we need additional IT related work to be completed in Q1 FY25. | 1st quarter of FY25 |
| Community Gardens | $50,000 | The garden at Amay James Recreation Center is in final design and will be installed in Q2/Q3 of FY25. | 3rd quarter of FY25 |
| Park Fitness Equipment | $80,000 | Fitness equipment has been installed at Fred Alexander Park. | Complete |
| Literacy Expo | $100,000 | Literacy Activities are were held during the Corridor Connect Events at West Charlotte Recreation Center (10/15/23) and Arbor Glen Outreach Center (10/22/23). Tuckaseegee Recreation Center hosted a Literacy Event for Daycares on 11/13/23. Story Walks were completed prior to 12/31/23 at Winget, Ivory/Baker, Southview, and Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Centers. Final book purchases to be completed by Q1 FY25. | 1st quarter of FY25 |
| District 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Amount | Status | Estimated Completion (Fiscal Year Quarter) |
| Home Repairs for Senior Citizens | $125,000 | A contract has been approved for the repair work in conjunction with other home repair programs. Approximately $30K in repairs have been completed. The Affordable Housing Program Manager is working with vendors to complete the projects in the upcoming year. | 2nd quarter of FY25 |
| Classes at the Rec Center/Indoor Play Space | $30,000 | • Reedy Creek - Completed purchase a Glowforge (3D Laser printer) and it is being utilized for programming. • Methodist Home- Theater equipment and supplies for the center’s theater program have been purchased. Mural drawing in the gym was completed. Final payments for Theater performances have been completed.• Sugaw Creek - Purchased Disc Jockey (DJ) equipment to offer DJ classes to the community. | Complete |
| Space for Children/Teens to Gather | $15,000 | PC's installed, E-gaming consoles purchased and E-gaming manual completed. | Complete |
| Seating Benches in District Greenways | $80,000 | Benches have been installed along greenways. | Complete |
| Little Free Libraries | $5,000 | Park & Rec has installed 11 Little Free Libraries (LFL) in District 3. | Complete |
| Digital Community Information Kiosk | $125,000 | The County is exploring site options to install digital kiosks at existing facilities in District 3. | 1st quarter of FY25 |
| District 4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Amount | Status | Estimated Completion (Fiscal Year Quarter) |
| Big Belly Trash Cans | $75,000 | Ten Big Belly trash cans have been installed. | Complete |
| Grier Heights Park Improvement | $50,000 | Amphitheater renovations have been completed, including new electrical service, repairs to seating, and retaining walls have been installed. | Complete |
| Sumer Camp Free Tuition | $125,000 | A total of 73 youth participated in 8 weeks of Aquatic Camps held at Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center and Ray's Splash Planet. 10 youth from Albemarle Road Recreation Center participated in an Outdoor Skills Camp at Stevens Creek Nature Preserve. 16 Teens completed a 4 day Outdoor Adventure Camp in Boone NC. 4 week 1/2 Day Nature Camp at Winterfield Elementary had 4 participants. | Complete |
| Mason Wallace Park Refresh | $50,000 | Full and half court basketball repairs and access trail work has been completed. | Complete |
| Playground at McAlpine Park | $125,000 | Playground is in design and has a revised location based on possible landfill concerns. Technical issues with former landfill at McAlpine Park has added costs to the playground and site work. Unit is anticipated to cost $198,000. | 3rd quarter of FY25 |
| Arts in Parks | $75,000 | Park & Rec offered four events during Q3 and Q4 - First Ward Park/February, Kilborne Park/March, Independence Park/April, Sheffield Park/May. Remaining funding will be used for additional programming in FY25. | erd quarter of FY25 |
| District 5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Amount | Status | Estimated Completion (Fiscal Year Quarter) |
| Green Corridors Tree Planing | $10,000 | Park and Recreation contracted with Trees Charlotte and trees have been installed. | Complete |
| Improvements to Ramblewood and Archdale | $125,000 | New benches, picnic tables and other amenities have been received and installed in park areas. | Complete |
| Butterfly Gardens | $10,000 | Coordinated locations in parks and along greenways for installation of pollinators has been completed. | Complete |
| Water Bottle Filters | $48,000 | Received water bottle fillers and installations have been completed. | Complete |
| Park Safety Systems | $120,000 | 911 system kiosk mock-up signage design has been completed. New signage for phase 1 has been installed. Additional 911 signage will be installed by Qtr 2 of FY25. | 2nd quarter of FY25 |
| Mural Art | $30,000 | Park & Rec has partnered with Charlotte is Creative to design and paint murals on the side of Marion Diehl Rec Center. Participants of all ages and abilities worked on the project from design through completion. | Complete |
| Community-Based Mental Awareness Outreach | $30,000 | We held two events in District 5 during March 2024 (March 7 and 14) to engage and educate residents about ongoing behavioral health initiatives and resources. 31 residents attended the first session and 27 attended the second. Staff from Charlotte is Creative emceed the event and facilitated an interactive learning experience with the audience. We also had a diverse panel of local behavioral health experts and advocates to provide information and answer questions. We distributed behavioral health resource materials, blankets and coffee mugs with the 988 Lifeline and County logos on them. | Complete |
| Reading Nooks at Rec Centers | $35,000 | Outdoor reading nook on the patio at Marion Diehl Recreation Center, adjacent to the new greenway is complete. Tyvola Senior Center room construction is complete and furniture and books have arrived. | Complete |
| Air Pumps on Greenways | $50,000 | All air pumps stations have been received and installed at identified locations along greenways in District 5. | Complete |
| District 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Amount | Status | Estimated Completion (Fiscal Year Quarter) |
| Connect 6 -Greenway to Street Connectors | $100,000 | Funding will be used to expand the usability of the greenways in the District and has been transferred to the Walker Branch-Hoover Creek Greenway project. | Complete |
| Farmers Market Support and Promotion | $25,000 | Partial funding in the amount of $11,900 was issued to support capital costs and promotion, such as the repair of vendor stalls, promotional material/signage, flyers, renovation of educational space permanent covering, storage cabinets, and a refrigeration unit in District 6. The final invoice has been received and submitted for payment. | Complete |
| Park Safety Systems | $125,000 | 911 system kiosk mock-up signage design has been completed. Phase 1 has been completed and the remaining signage will be installed by Q1-Q3 FY25. | 3rd quarter of FY25 |
| Biodiversity in Parks | $50,000 | 8 acres seeded at Stevens Creek and the pollinator garden project at Flat Branch was completed. | Complete |
| Solar Trees | $125,000 | Solar trees installed at Sportsplex at Matthews, Colonel Francis Beatty Park and Elon Park. | Complete |
| How ART Thou? Greenway Art Project | $50,000 | Contracted with Charlotte is Creative to activate Little Sugar Creek Greenway between I-485 and Polk Historic Property. Worked with Elon Park Elementary and South Charlotte High School to paint the storm drain manhole covers along the greenway. Offered spoken word events at Polk Historic site. | Complete |