Stronach Park (Credit: Dan McCracken)

From a porch concert series in central London, to a bike repair station on the Stoney Creek Valley trail, the winning ideas for this year’s Neighbourhood Decision Making program have been announced.

New natural playgrounds, volleyball posts, picnic tables, and tree planting are some of the winning projects that will be installed in various parks around the city of London.

According to the City of London, 342 project ideas were submitted this year, which was a record high. Londoner’s cast 18,464 votes this year, six thousand more than last year.

The city of London earmarked $250,000 towards this year’s program. The program started with community members submitting ideas about how to improve parks and trails within our neighbourhoods.

Once the viable ideas were selected and approved by city council, a voting period began between Nov. 4^th to Nov. 9^th for Londoner’s to decide which ideas were selected.

The voting areas were broken into five zones: central, northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast London. One big idea worth $50,000 and two to four small ideas up to $30,000 were selected for each zone.

The 2024 Winning Projects

Central London

Big Idea: Natural Playground at Academie De La Tamise Greenspace ($30,000)

Small Ideas:

• Neighbourhood Porch Concert Series in Central London ($14,600)
• Gaga Ball Pit at Mountsfield Public School Greenspace ($12,500)

Northwest London

Big Idea: Natural Playground at Saint Marguerite D’Youville Catholic Elementary School ($30,000)

Small Ideas:

• Volleyball and Seating in Oak Park ($14,500)
• Utility Box Mural in Northwest London ($1,000)
• Little Library on Elson Road ($1,000)
• Park Bench in Beaverbrook Woods ($5,200)

Northeast London

Big Idea: Picnic Tables at Mother Teresa Secondary School Greenspace ($20,000)

Small Ideas:

• Outdoor Seating and Tree Planting at East Carling Public School Greenspace ($14,500)
• Soccer Goal Posts for Cedar Hollow Park ($8,000)
• Bike Repair Station on Trail at Stoney Creek Valley Southeast ($7,000)

Southwest London

Big Idea: Small Play Equipment and Playground Resurfacing with Accessible Entry Point at Cleardale Public School ($30,000)

Small Ideas:

• Tree Planting in White Oaks Park ($14,000)
• Multicultural Free Little Library on Clarendon Crescent ($2,500)
• Neighbourhood Art Show in Byron ($1,800)
• Bike Parking at Boler Road and Byron Baseline Road ($4,400)

Southeast London

Big Idea: Trees, Benches and Small Play Equipment at Trafalgar Public School ($30,000)

Small Ideas:

• Tree Planting in CNRA Park ($10,000)
• Bird Friendly Decals at East Lions Community Centre ($14,500)

Each of the winning projects are expected to be implemented by the end of 2025.