Saratoga Springs Participatory Budgeting

12/16/2025

Cycle 4 voting has concluded — thank you all for participating!
We’re grateful to everyone who submitted a project in Cycle 4, as well as the Participatory Budgeting Committee for guiding them through the process.

Four projects will be brought to a vote on tonight's City Council Meeting:

1) Division Street Elementary Paint and Sip Art Night ($800)
A "Paint and Sip" art night for students and their families at Division Street Elementary School. Led by the school's art teacher, families will create paintings together in a fun, guided setting. The event aims to build community and connection between families and the school.

2) Division Street Elementary New Art Room Kiln ($5,900)
A new kiln will be purchased for the Division Street Elementary School art room to replace the aged and inefficient kiln currently in use. The new kiln will allow as many as 3,000 students to enjoy pottery projects over the next ten years.

3) Caffe Lena Folk Club Kids Concert Series ($12,700)
A free and weekly concert series for preschoolers and their caregivers at Caffe Lena. A professional folk trio performs interactive songs to support early childhood development, social skills, and a love of music. The program is drop-in with no barriers to participation.

4) Pitney Meadows Exploration Garden Expansion ($30,000)
This project will expand the children's Exploration Garden at Pitney Meadows Community Farm into Saratoga's first public natural play landscape. It will feature interactive zones for music, gardening, and sensory exploration, all built with natural materials. The space is designed for child-led, unstructured outdoor play and learning.

12/12/2025

Last Day to vote in Cycle 4 of Saratoga Springs Participatory Budgeting!

For information about the program and the Cycle 4 projects, please visit our website! https://www.saratoga-springs.org/2808/Cycle-Four-2025-2026

12/09/2025

Four days left to vote in Cycle 4 of Saratoga Springs Participatory Budgeting!

For information about the program and the Cycle 4 projects, please visit our website! https://www.saratoga-springs.org/2808/Cycle-Four-2025-2026

12/05/2025

Tomorrow, December 6th, Cycle 4 voting will begin!

The Cycle 4 ballot includes nine projects:

Caffe Lena Folk Club Kids Concert Series ($12,700)
A free and weekly concert series for preschoolers and their caregivers at Caffe Lena. A professional folk trio performs interactive songs to support early childhood development, social skills, and a love of music. The program is drop-in with no barriers to participation.

Children's Museum Revolutionary War Education ($8,050)
The Children's Museum at Saratoga will create and present educational programs about the lives of children during the American Revolution. Programs will be offered at the museum, in Saratoga Springs classrooms, and at public spaces like the farmers' market. It connects local history to the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations.

Division Street Elementary Paint and Sip Art Night ($800)
A "Paint and Sip" art night for students and their families at Division Street Elementary School. Led by the school's art teacher, families will create paintings together in a fun, guided setting. The event aims to build community and connection between families and the school.

Division Street Elementary New Art Room Kiln ($5,900)
A new kiln will be purchased for the Division Street Elementary School art room to replace the aged and inefficient kiln currently in use. The new kiln will allow as many as 3,000 students to enjoy pottery projects over the next ten years.

National Museum of Racing Field Trips ($7,726)
Funds field trips for hundreds of local students from Saratoga Springs and the Public Library's Afterschool Program. The money will cover the cost of bus transportation and any related expenses. This removes financial barriers, allowing students to experience the museum's history and art collections.

Pitney Meadows Exploration Garden Expansion ($30,000)
This project will expand the children's Exploration Garden at Pitney Meadows Community Farm into Saratoga's first public natural play landscape. It will feature interactive zones for music, gardening, and sensory exploration, all built with natural materials. The space is designed for child-led, unstructured outdoor play and learning.

Saratoga Arts Young Writers Poetry Workshop ($8,450)
A free, six-week poetry workshop for youth ages 10-18, led by the Saratoga Springs Poet Laureate, Jay Rogoff. Participants will learn writing skills and explore different poetic styles, culminating in an optional public reading at Caffe Lena. The program aims to foster creative expression and literacy in a supportive environment.

Saratoga Farmers' Market Kids Club & Nutrition Education ($29,993)
This project expands the Farmers' Market Kids Club to run year-round and partners with Cornell Cooperative Extension to provide nutrition education at the market and in four local elementary schools. Children can earn "produce coins" at the market to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables at the market. The goal is to increase access to healthy, local food and teach lifelong healthy habits.

Saratoga Springs Housing Authority - Jefferson Terrace Playground ($31,500)
A new playground will be installed at the Jefferson Terrace housing complex. It will provide a safe and dedicated space for children living there to play, socialize, and be active. The playground is intended to foster community and support child development.

12/04/2025

https://www.saratogian.com/2025/12/03/year-of-the-child-fourth-cycle-of-participatory-budgeting-to-begin-this-weekend/

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, the projects for the fourth and what could be the final round of Participatory Budgeting were announced, with voting to begin on Sa…

10/15/2025

Last Friday, October 10th, Geyser Road Elementary School & PTO held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Outdoor Learning Space funded by Participatory Budgeting.

The event brought together Geyser Road Elementary faculty, staff, and students, along with city officials, Sustainable Saratoga representatives, and the SSCSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Patton.

Video: Brookie Cannie cutting the ribbon for the Outdoor Learning Space

09/23/2025

Last Friday, September 19th, Saratoga Springs Recreation Dept held a free event at the Weibel Avenue Ice Rink and the Vernon Arena for those interested in ice sports!

The Vernon Arena had free curling with equipment sponsored by Saratoga Springs Participatory Budgeting! For more information on Saratoga Springs Recreation events, please visit the Saratoga Springs official website or the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department’s facebook (Tagged above)!

Image 1 [Left to Right]: Eric Perez and Hannah Hertik

08/06/2025

Last Wednesday, July 30th, we visited Franklin Community Center (FCC) Food Pantry on 95 Washington St. FCC was founded with the goal of making a difference in the lives of others, and they have successfully been serving Saratoga Springs for over 40 years!

FCC provides free food for Saratoga Springs residents - positively impacting low-income families. Through our Participatory Budgeting grant, FCC increased food production by building a community supported garden!

Franklin Community Center, Inc.

07/28/2025

Today, Commissioner Sanghvi visited the So Bro Conservancy garden on 209 South Broadway. Two years ago, this patch of land was an empty lot with no greenery. With a kind donation from the Eshaghian family, the empty lot was handed to SoBro Conservancy to be re-greened!

After SoBro Conservancy completed phase 1 of the re-greening project, Participatory Budgeting funded phase 2 — helping them successfully create a native garden that’s vibrant and lively!

Image 1 [Left to Right]: Commissioner Minita Sanghvi and Tom Denny.

SoBro Conservancy of Saratoga

07/23/2025

Yesterday, Commissioner Sanghvi and Deputy Commissioner Crocker had the opportunity to attend Pitney Meadow Community Farm’s composting workshop - part of a program funded by Participatory Budgeting!

During the event, Pitney Meadow Community Farm Intern, Grace Mundinger demonstrated how composting works, and how you can do it in your backyard! Following that, Saratoga Climate Smart Task Force Committee Chair, Laura Faulk, presented the city’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the goal’s of the Climate Smart Task Force.

Image 1 [Left to Right]: Commissioner Minita Sanghvi, Deputy Commissioner Heather Crocker, Laura Faulk, and Grady Aronstamm.

Pitney Meadows Community Farm
Sustainable Saratoga

06/26/2025

The PB Committee is now accepting project proposals.

Not sure where to start? Project proposals forms are available here: https://bit.ly/SaratogaSpringsPB2025