The Wrocław Participatory Budget is a part of the city budget whose allocation is decided by you – the residents of Wrocław – through a vote. In the Plac Grunwaldzki housing estate, we have had little progress so far within the WBO framework, so it's time to get organized and motivate everyone to work together to support Grunwald!
Participatory budgeting is a process that allows residents to discuss and directly influence decisions about allocating a portion of the public budget to projects proposed directly by citizens. Each year, the Participatory Budgeting (WBO) organizes a competition in which local communities can submit their ideas for projects aimed at improving the condition of local infrastructure. Neglected yards, missing playground equipment, the need for greenery, and the creation of dog runs are just a few of the ideas that people from Wrocław have submitted to the WBO. Winning is our shared goal, and every vote counts!
This year, we encourage you to vote for two projects: No. 200 (neighborhood-wide) and No. 204 (extra-neighborhood). We want to use the opportunity presented by the WBO to renovate two spaces in our neighborhood—we know from you that both are crucial landmarks in Grunwald. Read on to learn which places we're referring to, or click the links below to choose a specific topic that interests you.
Voting begins on September 22 and ends on October 9, 2023. Voting is only possible during this period and for only two projects – one local and one cross-neighborhood. Voting is available via the form available at [www.wroclaw.pl/wbo] or in writing at voting points. The results of this year's edition will be announced a few days after the votes are counted by the Wrocław Municipality.
[LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT #200]
[LEARN MORE ABOUT PROJECT #204]
[LEARN HOW TO VOTE]
IHow many votes do we need? Lots, even a great many! Every vote counts and is of great importance. In 2022, 10 neighborhood projects and 7 cross-neighborhood projects were selected. To win, 2,370 votes were needed for the neighborhood project and 2,853 votes for the cross-neighborhood project – to gather this many votes in Grunwald, we must work together and support each other!
[PROJECT NUMBER 200]
Project No. 200: Renovation on Miła and Ładna streets, or how to change one of the key intersections for the estate?
For the last two years – as part of the project „"Citizen Workshop – Green Plac Grunwaldzki OD NOWA"” – Together with students from Wrocław universities, experts, and residents of the estate, we explored the space around us to find places that, in your opinion, are most in need of new investment. Conversations with the local community have shown us a specific point on the map of Grunwald: the intersection of Miła, Ładna, Grunwaldzka, Benedyktyńska and Górnickiego streets.
This is where our neighbors identified the most important infrastructure needs:
- increasing the accessibility of the intersection (also for blind and visually impaired people);
- improving the quality of infrastructure;
- increasing the sense of security;
- creating a place for rest and integration.
The intersection is used by people of all ages: seniors and families with children, for whom smooth sidewalks and safety are crucial, students who pass this intersection on their way to and from classes, as well as people traveling by bike and car (for them, a functional intersection is also a priority).
Project No. 200 includes specific actions to assist those using this intersection or living in its vicinity. As part of the planned investment, at this stage we have planned to perform the most important works related to improving the quality of infrastructure:
- repairing sidewalks and raising pedestrian crossings;
- taking into account facilities for blind or visually impaired people;
- installation of bicycle racks – removed due to the commencement of construction of the apartment building located at this intersection – and garbage cans;
- creating a neighborhood bench and tidying up the green area on Ładna Street.
In the coming years, we plan to use the WBO to submit proposals for the next stages of the project, including the creation of recreational and integration infrastructure, increasing the amount of greenery planted, and improving the accessibility of the area around the intersection. Before we can even consider the next stage, we first need to collect enough votes this year!
[PROJECT NUMBER 204]
Project No. 204: Restoration of Pasteur Street, or how to take care of the coastline used by residents of several housing estates?
The Wrocław Participatory Budget also encompasses investments beyond the local area, meaning those that affect areas used by residents and residents of various parts of Wrocław. This year, we encourage you to vote for a project located on the Louis Pasteur coast, that is, between the Zwierzyniecki and Szczytnicki bridges. The local community in that part of the estate has been calling for renovations to this section of land along the Old Oder River for some time now – we've decided to amplify their voices and ask for your help in gathering the necessary votes.
The Pasteur Coast area faces many infrastructure needs, including:
- problems with the road surface used by both pedestrians and cyclists;
- lack of a sense of security resulting from the poor condition of the balustrade, but also from the lack of lighting in the area;
- littering the waterfront area.
Waterfront areas are crucial in Wrocław, especially for those living in or visiting Śródmieście or Wielka Wyspa. The Louis Pasteur coastline is used not only by residents of the district but also by tourists and students studying in the capital of Lower Silesia. As part of project no. 204, we proposed several simple solutions to improve the local infrastructure:
- renovation of the pedestrian route between the Zwierzyniecki and Szczytnicki bridges;
- replacement or maintenance of the balustrade on the entire above-mentioned section;
- installation of bicycle racks, garbage cans and missing benches;
In the coming years, we plan to use the WBO to submit further project steps, including increasing the amount of greenery planted, repairing historic curbs, and improving accessibility to the waterfront area. However, before we plan for the future, we must focus on winning this year's competition!
[How to vote in the Wrocław Participatory Budget?]
How do I vote? Who can do it? What do I need to prepare and where can I vote?
Together, we can accomplish so much. Simply vote and invite your loved ones – neighbors, friends, and family – to vote. If you'd like to help us, tell us about WBO and these two projects in your yard or stairwell, hang a poster on your gate (and definitely don't tear down the ones we hang – with the permission of your building managers, of course), or send a link to this page on your neighborhood WhatsApp chat. Every gesture counts, because as many people as possible need to know about projects no. 200 and 204 – both our neighbors in Grunwald, as well as residents of other parts of Wrocław. Every vote brings us closer to our goal!
Voting for the Wrocław Participatory Budget is easy! Anyone who lives in Wrocław can vote – regardless of age. You don't need to be registered here. Vote using the form available on the website [wroclaw.pl/wbo] or at paper voting locations (a list of these locations can be found at the bottom of this article). When voting, you provide your (or your children's) personal data, and you don't have to worry about it – it stays on the Wrocław Municipality server and is not shared with anyone. During a single vote, we choose two projects – one local and one cross-neighborhood.
Voting electronically is simpler and takes less time! To vote, select your chosen projects (by entering their numbers), provide the required information (including your PESEL number), and provide your mobile phone number. An SMS with a confirmation code will be sent to the number provided (receiving the SMS message is free of charge for the voter). Only after entering the activation code in the voting app will your vote be saved in the system.
Why do we need to provide our PESEL number when voting? It's the basic information the Wrocław Municipality uses to verify whether our vote is valid (and, most importantly, whether we voted for more than two projects – one local and one cross-neighborhood).
Join us and let's renew ourselves on Ładna, Miła and Pasteura!
