Voting for the 2026 People’s Budget is open! Vote by December 31st, 2025.
The 2026 People’s Budget is officially open for voting! From now until December 31st, 2025, 40th Ward residents ages 14+ can vote on how we should spend one million dollars in infrastructure funds, including:
- what percentage of the $1M in Menu funds we should spend on repairs of existing infrastructure vs. new infrastructure projects;
- 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 2026 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! Below, you can see all the details on the five final ballot projects––and hear directly from the community members that support them.
Chappell Elementary Accessible Playground Equipment: $170K
This project would fund the installation of ADA-compliant, accessible playground equipment at Chappell Elementary School, to make it a more inclusive playground for students and visitors to the park. The equipment includes: a playhouse with tactile elements, an inclusive seated spinner, shade structure, musical instruments, and a stationary cycler. If funded, this project would directly benefit students in Chappell’s Intensive Support Cluster Program, which is a specialized program for students with intensive needs.
Pedestrian Safety Improvements at Peterson and Maplewood: $90K
This project would fund the installation of rapid rectangular flashing beacons at Peterson and Maplewood to increase driver awareness of crossing pedestrians and improve safety for pedestrians.
River Park Viaduct Mural: $40K
This project would fund the installation of a mosaic mural along the wall of the Foster Avenue viaduct at River Park, to make it a more welcoming place for neighbors, and to add some much-needed public art to River Park. The installation of a mosaic mural along the viaduct wall will also serve as a deterrent to graffiti. If funded, the 40th Ward will host a community process to choose an artist to design the mural.
Pedestrian Safety Improvements at Lawrence and Washtenaw: $90K
This project would fund the addition of Installation of rapid rectangular rapid flash beacons (RRFB) on Lawrence and Washtenaw to increase driver awareness of crossing pedestrians and improve pedestrian safety at this intersection along the Lawrence Streetscape.
Pedestrian Safety Improvements on Bryn Mawr at Maplewood and Artesian: $366K
This project would fund the installation of bump-outs on Bryn Mawr and Maplewood and Bryn Mawr and Artesian to facilitate better visibility for pedestrians and calm traffic near St. Phillip’s school.
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)