2023 Participatory Budget: Proposed projects
From September 8 to 15, you can vote for one project per category. The two winning projects will receive a maximum of $20,000. Winning projects will be announced at the Big Pumpkin Day, on September 24. From September 8 to 15, you can vote by clicking on the button below.
CATEGORY 1: Investment in infrastructure or equipment on land or property belonging to the City of Edmundston
CATEGORY 2: Investment on a site (which may be private property) with existing infrastructure belonging to the City of Edmundston (permanent installation) or equipment (which may be relocated).
Category 1
Project #1
Upgrading the pickleball courts in Richelieu Park (Category 1 project)
Richelieu Park, 155 22nd Avenue
Edmundston Pickleball Committee, Toby Lafrance, President
A committee of pickleball players of various levels has been formed with the goal of working with the City of Edmundston to advance the sport in the community.
The proposed project involves upgrading the outdoor pickleball courts at Richelieu Park. An old tennis court was modified several years ago to create four outdoor pickleball courts. These courts need to be upgraded to meet current standards. The proposed improvements and steps are as follows:
- Purchase and installation of 4 regulation nets;
- Modification of the windbreaks to improve play (full height).
The proposed site for these improvements is the outdoor pickleball court located at Richelieu Park in Edmundston-East. This site already has the basic municipal services required. The aim of the requested improvements is to bring the courts up to regulation standards, improve safety and reduce wind on the courts.
For nearly 10 years, the multi-generational sport of pickleball has been growing rapidly in Edmundston and around the world. The region has around 250 players of all ages. What's more, the sport is now taught in schools at all levels.
The meteoric rise of this sport, both nationally and internationally, has the added benefit of offering users an easy and fun way of doing sport, and getting people of all fitness levels moving. The sport also offers interesting economic development benefits, given the possibility of organising provincial and national tournaments.
The current state of the courts does not allow them to be used for tournaments. Improvements to the site will enable more people of all ages to take part at any time of day.
Project #2
Community nurturing forest
Voisine Street
Citizens' group, Saint-Basile sector, Manuel Lamontagne, representative
A community nurturing forest is an urban forestry project that aims to reproduce the dynamics and structure of a forest by introducing edible plants in different vertical strata.
Herbs and vegetables will be found in the herbaceous stratum, and fruit in the shrub and tree strata.
The aim of this project is to create a demonstration site for sustainable food production in order to improve food self-sufficiency for Edmundston residents. The specific objectives are to:
- Create a site conducive to environmental education and food self-sufficiency;
- Improve the aesthetic qualities and increase the biodiversity of the site; and
- Encourage citizens to maintain, harvest, process and consume the food products of the food forest.
The project involves purchasing plants and equipment, preparing the site, planting and producing posters.
- Promote healthy lifestyles by encouraging the consumption of fruit and vegetables.
- Raise awareness among Edmundston residents of the importance of food self-sufficiency and food insecurity.
- Convert a vacant lot into a nurturing space for the public.
- Create a gathering space, encourage social interaction and create a sense of belonging.
- Educate people about the benefits of plants.
- Attract pollinating insects and keep pests away.
- Combat climate change.
- Accumulate nutrients.
- Fix atmospheric nitrogen.
- Diversify the city's urban park.
- Promote urban forestry.
category 2
project #1
Edmundston-North trail system
Merisier Street/Des Plaines Avenue
Edmundston-North citizens' committee, Wayne Dionne, representative
In the perspective of improving the quality of life of the citizens and given the rapid growth of the Edmundston-North neighbourhood, it is now necessary to reconfigure and upgrade certain bicycle paths in the neighbourhood linking to the Petit Témis bicycle path.
The project involves upgrading the existing path from Merisier Street to Des Plaines Avenue, crossing the road and creating a new segment of path along the quarry to the access road. Removable barriers will also have to be added for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
- Maintain and improve the neighbourhood's quality of life
- Promote healthy lifestyles and good health
- Promote outdoor activities and active mobility
- Protect the environment and green spaces
- Make infrastructure safer and more accessible to all sectors of the neighbourhood
- Ensure buffer zones between the residential and industrial districts of Edmundston-North
- Reach the entire neighbourhood population
project #2
Carrier Street Park
Carrier Street
Edmundston-East citizens' committee, Kristine Leblanc, representative
This project is a request to participate in the participatory budget for a project on municipal land not owned by the city. It was submitted by a group of citizens from the Edmundston-East neighbourhood, Carrier Street Park sector.
The primary aim of the project is to provide young people with a dynamic and unifying place where they can flourish in their neighbourhood.
As a first step, the project involves improving the children's play area by adding play modules. It is also proposes to refresh the existing basketball court by redrawing the lines of play and changing the baskets and/or nets.
Tournaments are held on the site every evening from spring to autumn, and there is a lack of facilities for those present.
The park is very popular with newcomers and is home to a great community. The addition of picnic tables to allow users to use the park to its full potential would also be appreciated, given the presence of young families in the area.
The paths adjacent to the park are used in both winter and summer. By making a few changes to the park, visitor numbers would increase even more. The current area is used by adults, and it would be good to allow younger children to enjoy it more. The existing play equipment would certainly benefit from renewal. The area is already equipped with a few structures, but could be enhanced by installing litter bins and picnic tables.
