Participatory Budgeting 2025 Results!
For the second year in a row, you voted to let us know how we should spend $1 million of our infrastructure budget! This year, we received a total of 947 votes (over 100 more than we received in PB 2024) The winning projects you selected are:
Goudy Elementary Accessible Playground
Berwyn DLSD Underpass Restoration
Bump-outs
Upgraded Lakefront Benches
Foster Landscaping
Balmoral/Sheridan Audible Crosswalk
Public Art
Bryn Mawr Decorative Crosswalks
The above projects add up to about $800,000 in infrastructure costs. Read more about each project below. Note that in 2024, 48th ward neighbors voted to allocate 20% (200,000) of the $1 million budget toward general infrastructure repairs and resurfacing.
This year, we included a non-binding referendum asking whether or not we should revisit a 2017 proposal for pedestrian safety infrastructure improvements at Bryn Mawr and Sheridan. 78% of voters said yes! This is a multi-million dollar initiative that will require multiple funding sources. Based on community interest, we'll move move forward with conversations about the project.
GOUDY ELEMENTARY ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND
48th ward neighbors voted to fund an enclosed, inclusive outdoor playground at Goudy Elementary for their primary-aged children with special needs. The space will be designed with these students' unique needs in mind, ensuring an environment that is safe for every child. Located at the northwest corner of the Goudy building, this playground will be accessible for the community to use and enjoy.
BERWYN DLSD UNDERPASS
Our DuSable Lake Shore Drive underpasses are an important element of local pedestrian infrastructure, allowing people to safely cross under the busy drive to access the lakefront. This project puts funds toward the restoration of the Berwyn DLSD Underpass, also known as the Welcome to Edgewater gateway.
BUMP-OUTS
This project installs pedestrian safety measures at two intersections: Foster/Wayne and Clark/Hollywood. Bump-outs are an extension of the sidewalk zone intended to calm motorized traffic and create additional space for pedestrians. They are built in collaboration with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT). Currently at Clark and Hollywood, there are bollards, and this project replaces them with a concrete curb. Currently at Foster and Wayne, there are no bollards and neighbors report a lack of visibility when going south on Wayne. This project increases visibility.
UPGRADED LAKEFRONT BENCHES
There are currently 13 wooden benches overlooking the Lakefront along the beautiful Lakefront Trail. This ballot item allocates funds to upgrade them from wood to metal, with the addition of concrete reinforcement slabs where needed.
FOSTER LANDSCAPING
In keeping with our Green Space & Environment theme, this ballot item allocates $50,000 for landscaping along Foster between Broadway and Marine Dr, an avenue currently lacking in greenspace compared to other parts of the ward.
BALMORAL/SHERIDAN AUDIBLE CROSSWALK
Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) are devices that audibly announce WALK and DON'T WALK intervals for pedestrians with low or no vision. In 2025, APS devices are scheduled to be installed at Devon/Glenwood and Devon/Broadway. This project funds an additional Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) at Balmoral/Sheridan.
PUBLIC ART
The 48th Ward has the opportunity to provide funding for public art initiatives to enhance and beautify our community. We will begin determing the location and design now that funding has been allocated.
BRYN MAWR DECORATIVE CROSSWALKS
This project installs decorative crosswalks along the Bryn Mawr corridor at the intersections of Broadway, Winthrop, Kenmore, and Sheridan with inlaid thermoplastic designs at Winthrop. Decorative crosswalks augment the character of the region while also making intersections more visible, improving pedestrian safety.
Want to propose an infrastructure project for PB 2026? share your input via the forms on this page of our site.
We want to bring PB engagement opporunities directly to you. Interested in hosting your own PB 2026 community engagement meeting where you can propose and discuss project ideas? Reach out to development@the48thward.org. We’ll get back to you about hosting a meeting some time in the fall.