Announcing the 2025 People’s Budget!

From now until the end of December, 40th Ward residents ages 14+ can vote on how we should spend one million dollars in infrastructure funds, including:

1. what percentage of the $1M in Menu funds we should spend on repairs of existing infrastructure vs. new infrastructure projects;
2. which new projects you want us to fund!

To learn more about how participatory budgeting works, including details like how much repairs cost and what types of projects are eligible, visit 40thward.org/PB.

Here are the projects on the 2025 People’s Budget ballot:

This year’s People’s Budget Committee reviewed over 50 project proposals and ranked them by criteria like safety, sustainability, creativity, accessibility, and community impact. They chose the final ballot with an eye toward equity, and making sure that we are considering projects that are spread equitably across the ward.

Thank you to all of the neighbors who submitted proposals this year! We had so many great ones that we ended up with six on the ballot, instead of our traditional five. Below, you can see details on the six final projects that made the ballot.

Chappell Elementary School Mural: $50K

This project would fund the installation of a mural on the facade of Chappell Elementary School, to make it a more welcoming place for children, and to some much-needed public art to Foster Avenue. If funded, the 40th Ward will host a community process along with students from the school and the surrounding community to choose an artist to design the mural.

Budlong Woods Library Butterfly Garden: $60K

This project would fund improvements to the Budlong Woods Branch reading garden to create a safer, more attractive space for patrons to read books, gather for public programs, and otherwise enjoy. Proposed improvements include attractive fencing for safety, two ADA accessible gates, an accessibility upgrade of a gravel pathway, and butterfly/pollinator-friendly garden plantings.

Pedestrian Plaza at Ridge and Thome: $100K

This project would fund the creation of a new community space in West Ridge, by turning the newly widened sidewalk area at Ridge and Thome into a pleasant pedestrian plaza, including bike racks, trashcans, seating, and planters for native plants. These funds would turn what is now an empty stretch of concrete into a place for neighbors to gather, and commuters from the new Metra station to stop and relax on the way home.

Mather Park Upgraded Pathways and Seating: $250K

This project would fund upgrades to pathways and seating throughout Mather Park. The condition of the pathways and benches in the park have degraded over the decades. These funds would facilitate the repaving of all the pathways, along with new benches, to create a safer, more attractive park for students and other members of the community.

Pedestrian Crosswalk Timer at Berwyn and Western: $150K

This project would fund the addition of a pedestrian crosswalk timer at Berwyn and Western. The crosswalk timer would make it safer and easier for pedestrians to cross, by ensuring they have plenty of time to cross before the light turns red. It’s also an important infrastructure addition for cyclists: while the Berwyn bikeway has added an important new east-west connector for cyclists, in its current condition, it can be difficult for cyclists to know when it is safe to cross Western Avenue. With this improvement, pedestrians and cyclists will be able to more easily and safely cross at this intersection.

Raised Crosswalk at Devon and Ravenswood: $150K

This project would fund the installation of a raised crosswalk at the intersection of Ravenswood and Devon. Raised crosswalks raise the grade of the crosswalk to the curb, which combines the speed-reducing benefits of a speed hump with increased accessibility and visibility for pedestrians crossing the street. The intersection of Devon and Ravenswood, already a highly-used intersection, is seeing even more pedestrian traffic with the new Metra station at Peterson and Ridge. This raised crosswalk would make crossing safer for commuters and other members of the community at this key intersection.

Vote Now!

Voting will be open until from now until December 31st. Cast your vote through our online ballot, or visit any of our in-person ballot box locations:

• 40th Ward Office: 5620 N Western Ave
• Budlong Woods Library: 5630 N Lincoln Ave
• Northtown Library: 6800 N Western Ave
• Warren Park Fieldhouse: 6601 N Western Ave
• Green Briar Park Fieldhouse: 2650 W Peterson Ave
• River Park Fieldhouse: 5100 N Francisco Ave
• Side Practice Coffee Shop: 5139 N Damen Ave
• Emmerson Park Fieldhouse: 1820 W Granville Ave
• Mather High School: 5835 N Lincoln Ave (for students only)
• Amundsen High School: 5110 N Damen Ave (for students only)
• Schneider Apartments (for residents only): 1750 W Peterson Ave (for residents only)
• Peterson Plaza Apartments (for residents only): 5969 N Ravenswood Ave (for residents only)
• Daniel Hudson Burnham Apartments (for residents only: 1930 W Loyola Ave (for residents only)
• G&A Senior Living (for residents only): 1818 W Peterson Ave (for residents only)