*Mural at Wilson Field: Local artist(s) paint murals on the dugouts at Wilson Field. The murals will showcase the evolution of Freehold Borough Little League from T-ball to the Majors throughout the decades. These renderings will be displayed on the exterior of the dugouts at each field, honoring the rich history of our nation's pastime.

Anticipated completion: Spring 2026

*Decorative Archways in Downtown at key visitor  locations. Made from iron the arches will say “Freehold” in lettering at the top. These arches will welcome visitors to our lovely town. The arches will keep with the historic nature of our community and will help connect the downtown promenade through the many alleyways leading into the Borough’s parking lot.

Anticipated completion: late 2026

*Musical Flowers in our Parks: Eight musical flowers to be installed in Lenior and Veterans Parks. The flowers will inspire children to make music while enjoying the playground, fostering interactive play.

Anticipated completion: Early Spring

There will be no Participatory Budgeting Theme for 2026. Residents are encouraged to submit a wide range of project ideas for consideration.

Participatory Budgeting Theme for 2025
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What is Participatory Budgeting?

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process that empowers community members through civic engagement to decide how to spend part of a public budget. In Freehold Borough, the intention is for Participatory Budgeting to directly involve residents in the budgeting and city-building process, foster civic engagement and community spirit, and help ensure that the town’s budget reflects the priorities of Freehold Borough's residents and local partners. It gives real people real power over real money: hometown voices speak.

What are the Goals of Participatory Budgeting in Freehold Borough?
The Borough hopes that Participatory Budgeting will directly involve residents in the budgeting and city-building process, foster civic engagement and community spirit, and help ensure that the Borough’s budget reflects the priorities of Freehold residents and local partners. The Participatory Budgeting Committee approved the following five goals for the Participatory Budgeting process:

     1. Expand and Diversify Civic Engagement: Ensure that all community members have a voice in the development and improvement of their hometown, especially marginalized communities, reticent voters, and people with limited opportunities to engage in the political process.

     2. Have Meaningful Social and Community Impact: Use Participatory Budgeting as a tool to effect meaningful social change in the community.

     3. Promote Sustainable Public Good: Make sustainable decisions that promote the long-term future and wellbeing of Freehold Borough residents.

     4. Create Easy and Seamless Civic Engagement: Enable the community to be involved without barriers or frictions. Create a welcoming space for residents to become engaged, fostering a "accessible" civic environment.

     5. Promote Civic-mindedness: Help residents imagine themselves as civic actors and educate each other about their needs and lives. Provide youth with the opportunity and experience to become life-long voters and community leaders.

How to get a Participatory Budgeting Proposal on the Ballot for a Community Vote?
Anyone aged 14 or older is invited to come together to brainstorm ideas and then transform those ideas into full proposals that meet the needs of the town.  To be considered for the ballot, all proposed projects must meet the following criteria:

• Must fit into this year's theme
• Must be capital projects which will serve the general public’s benefit.
• Must have an expected five-year life or more.
• Must have a low or relatively low maintenance cost.
• Must be on public property such as parks, borough buildings (not school property)  streets and sidewalks.
  
  

What is a Capital Improvement Project?

Capital Improvement projects fund infrastructure improvements, typically things that are bought or built. Examples of previous Participatory Budgeting capital projects include park upgrades, bicycle infrastructure, basketball court upgrades, water bottle filling stations, and tree plantings.

Who is eligible to vote?
To vote for Participatory Budgeting projects you must be a Freehold Borough resident aged 14 or over or a Freehold Borough Business owner.

Participatory Budgeting Process

Develop proposals!
Anyone aged 14 or older is invited to come together to discuss local needs and the best ways to address them. Proposal forms will be available for community members to submit their ideas in English and Spanish on the Participatory Budgeting Website or at Borough Hall.

Vote!!
Residents will vote on up to 3 proposals either online or with a paper ballot in English or Spanish.

Fund Winning Projects!!!
Once a project is approved, it will be included in the funding for the Borough's annual budget.

April 15, 2026 - Open Project Proposals submission opens. Residents will be able to submit project proposal ideas through the Borough website and paper forms located in the lobby of Borough Hall.

April - July - Educate residents on the PB process by attending meetings and tabling events. The committee will review project proposals submitted during this time and pass along to the Borough professionals for additional feedback.

July 15, 2026 - Project proposals submission deadline. Close 5pm

August 4th - PB committee to review submitted project proposals for adherence to PB criteria. If so, the committee will pass along to the Borough professionals for further review.

August 5 - 22, 2026 - Borough professionals review the proposed projects. PB committee fields questions or concerns regarding the project proposals from the Borough professionals. PB committee members will communicate with residents on the status of project proposals.

August 24 - September 16th - Finalize the PB ballot. Contact residents whose submitted project proposals will be on the ballot and invite them to present projects at the town hall meeting. Advertise PB Town Hall

September 17 - Town Hall Borough Hall 30 Mechanic Street. 2026 PB voting opens online and in-person ballot drop.

September 17th - October 15th - PB Voting

October 16th - Voting closes 11:59 pm

October 19th - Winning projects announced a Council meeting 6:30 pm Borough Hall 30 Mechanic Street

October 16th - Voting close

The Freehold Borough Participatory Budget Committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Borough Hall.