2025-2026 PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Jim Wollak

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

INFO & TIMELINE

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members propose projects and collectively decide how to spend part of a public budget. It began in 2013 by then-Supervisor Norman Yee, and this year, Participatory Budgeting is back and improved! We are looking for bold and innovative ideas as well as necessary neighborhood improvement projects. 

We hope to get as many different project ideas as we can, so be creative and tell us what your concerns, priorities, and ideas are. Please help us spread the word to your neighbors as we hope to expand community participation through this virtual process — every vote counts!

Application timeline:

  • Project Proposal Period: February 17 – March 28, 2025
  • Virtual Office Hours: TBA
  • Community Review Period: April 7 – April 18, 2025
  • Department Review Period: April 18 – June 1, 2025
  • Voting Period: June 2 – June 13, 2025
  • Announcement of Winners: June 16 – June 20, 2025
  • Funds Released to Departments: Fall 2025

Learn more about the submission process on our Participatory Budgeting Website!

PRIORITY AREAS

Participatory Budgeting proposals should advance at least one of the following key priority areas: 

  • School Beautification & Updates: playground improvements, updates to the physical infrastructure of District 7 public schools
  • Public Art on Merchant Corridors: murals, plants, art installations, etc. on commercial corridors in District 7
  • Sidewalk Repairs & Updates: repair of cracked or damaged sidewalks, tree basin maintenance, tree planting
  • Expedited Daylighting (Vision Zero): expedited painting of no-parking zones near crosswalks to improve pedestrian visibility

APPLY ONLINE NOW!

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GWPNA March Meeting

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Jim Wollak

Please join us for our monthly meeting:

Wednesday, March 12, 2025
7:00 – 8:30 P.M. (PST)

In person: Beyond Office conference room, 215 West Portal Avenue
Via Zoom: Please search your inboxes for the invitation link

We look forward to seeing you there!

Posted in Events, Volunteer/Donate | Leave a comment

West Portal Elementary Fundraising Auction seeks donors and sponsors

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Matt Chamberlain

West Portal Elementary School is holding their biggest fundraiser of the year on March 1st! They are grateful to have a generous community that helps make this event a success. The funds raised provide school supplies, field trips, community events, enrichment, and safety equipment for nearly 600 students.

Please consider donating items, experiences or becoming a sponsor. Sponsors will receive advertising on our website and auction platform, Bidding For Good, which reaches thousands of members. Contact auction@westportalparentsclub.org for more information.

Posted in Education, West Portal | Leave a comment

Dewey Circle Improvement Continues

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Matt Chamberlain

The Dewey Circle Renovation Committee continues to make progress on Dewey Circle. This photo taken on January 9th shows the great job Terra Landscape (TL) and SF DPW is doing at Dewey Circle. Terra Landscape pruned the large circular hedge, weeded, and spread the finely graded wood chips that Doug Reed from the SF DPW supplied. The Forest Hill Association and the Greater West Portal Neighborhood Association made donations so that the committee could hire Terra Landscape.

The committee is planning a new fund raising drive in early 2025 to ensure they have enough funds to continue the improvements. Watch for more updates soon.

This project is the culmination of a well-planned and executed project, and the result of a core group of hard working, dedicated neighbors working in partnership with the SF Urban Forestry Department, and was supported by our elected representatives.

Special thanks go to the project leaders for their tireless efforts to make our neighborhood a better place. Additional thanks to all the neighbors who volunteered as well as our local business owners who donated coffee, baked goods and food for the volunteers.

For the full story on the Dewey Circle improvement project, and to learn how you can donate to help, visit the Dewey Circle Improvement Donation page.

Posted in Parks, Volunteer/Donate, West Portal | Leave a comment