About the Green Participatory Budgeting

The GREEN PARTICIPATORY BUDGET (GPB) is an annual process in which residents of Stalowa Wola decide how to allocate a portion of Stalowa Wola’s budget for ecological and green initiatives, and this decision is binding for the authorities.

It is a tool designed to support the active involvement of Stalowa Wola residents in decision-making processes related to spending municipal funds on green and ecological projects. This allows residents to have a direct impact on shaping public spaces, including the creation and maintenance of parks, squares, urban gardens, and other green areas. The initiative aims to promote eco-friendly actions such as tree planting, establishing wildflower meadows, constructing bike paths, and installing ecological solutions in urban spaces. Through the Green Participatory Budget, Stalowa Wola residents can submit their projects and vote on which ones will be implemented. In this way, they collectively decide what will be developed in Stalowa Wola and which actions will be carried out. This process strengthens the local community's sense of shared responsibility for the natural environment and quality of life in the city.

The main goal of the Green Participatory Budget is to invigorate the social activity of Stalowa Wola residents concerning the care of urban greenery and the natural environment. In addition to its activation goal, the Green Participatory Budget also has educational value. Working on project preparation is an excellent opportunity to enhance skills in planning and implementing activities in the local environment, analyzing local needs regarding eco-infrastructure, green space management, or eco-initiatives, and gaining practical skills in project financial management.

Project ideas that can be implemented within the Green Participatory Budget are submitted in the year preceding their realization, for example: projects submitted and selected for funding in the 2024 vote will be implemented in 2025.

The financial resources for implementing residents' ideas come from the city budget. The total amount allocated for projects selected for funding within the Green Participatory Budget for 2025 is PLN 300,000, with each submitted project needing to fall within the range of PLN 10,000 to PLN 100,000.

Benefits of engaging in the Green Participatory Budget process:

• Opportunity to influence your surroundings: By submitting projects to the Green Participatory Budget, residents have the chance to actively participate in decisions affecting their local community and influence the city's development.

• Skill development: Preparing a project for the Participatory Budget requires teamwork, planning, creativity, information gathering, and presentation skills. This helps residents develop as leaders and active community members.

• Addressing social needs: The Green Participatory Budget allows residents to submit projects that address specific needs in their surroundings. This enables them to contribute to improving the living conditions of other residents and bring positive changes to their environment, realizing their green visions for the city.

• Building trust and community: By working together on Green Participatory Budget projects, young people can build social bonds, mutual trust, and a sense of community. This can contribute to the better functioning of the local community.

• Opportunity to fund your ideas: Projects submitted to the Green Participatory Budget may be financed by the City. This gives residents the chance to realize their ideas and bring positive changes to their environment.

In Stalowa Wola, the Green Participatory Budget is implemented based on Resolution No. LXXVI/1030/2024 dated March 7, 2024, concerning the Regulations for Conducting the Youth Participatory Budget and the Regulations for Conducting the Green Participatory Budget.

If you have a head full of ideas for a greener Stalowa Wola and want to influence the city’s development and ecological activities, the Green Participatory Budget is just for you! It is a unique opportunity to submit your project ideas that you believe should be realized.