Results of Orange Participatory Budgeting Simulation

1. Out and About Town, Part II

Location: Butterfield Park (E. River St)

Proposal: Resurface the tennis courts and fix the bandstand

Benefits: Maintain one of the major public recreation areas in the community and ensure public music and cultural events can continue post-COVID and are ADA accessible. These physical improvements would offer recreational, historic, and cultural benefits for those who want to be out and about in Orange!

2. Signage for a Hidden Gem

Location: Route 2 and at other visible and trafficked locations around Orange

Proposal: Create permanent way-finding signage in order to better direct visitors and locals to town amenities.

Benefits: Many people attend events along Route 2, such as the Garlic & Arts Festival. However, there is no signage along the highway to catch a driver’s eye if they are interested in grabbing a bite to eat or enjoying a boat ride. Once they are at different attractions within Orange, there is no signage that directs them to other activities in the community they might be interested in. Orange is truly a hidden gem that is not visible from the heavily-trafficked route.

3. Friendly Town, Fisher Town

Location: Lake Mattawa

Proposal: Build a public parking lot and make general improvements for more public access to Lake Mattawa.

Benefits: This would open up access to one of Orange's most valued natural and recreational resources and support local ecotourism and fishing activity.

4. Destination Recreation

Location: Orange public parks

Proposal: Fund a one-year pilot program for a Parks & Recreation staff person and maintenance budget.

Benefits: The recreation staff person would be in charge of creating active programming for seniors, youth and all residents of Orange to take full advantage of the beautiful recreation opportunities and assets the town has to offer.

5. Public Funding for Public Participation

Location: Orange Town Hall and throughout town

Proposal: Fund a staff person and program budget for one year to develop and implement a robust public participation strategy for the town.

Benefits: Establish innovative forms of resident engagement in town planning and governance. One outcome could be an ongoing, binding participatory budgeting process, complete with the necessary funding to ensure Orange residents can see projects through to completion. Alternatively, it could fund staff to collect ongoing resident input or develop a transportation program to allow seniors or those with mobility needs to attend Town Meeting and public decision-making events.

6. Studying Studio Apartments

Location: Butterfield Elementary School building (S. Main St)

Proposal: Fund a feasibility study to create mixed-income apartments in the upper levels of the Butterfield School.

Benefits: Orange lacks available rental housing, and this could be the first step to providing attractive units for low to middle income renters. The building could also maintain the auditorium, basketball court, and other current recreational amenities for public use, in line with the Open Space and Recreation Plan.

Converting the school to livable apartments would cost more than $60,000, but a feasibility study would initiate this adaptive reuse project. Conducting a feasibility study is not a guarantee that the housing will be built.

7. Patio, Parks, and Play, Part I

Location: Downtown Orange

Proposal: The first part of this proposal would create a permanent, public, outdoor dining patio and small playground on the lot next to the Pizza Factory.

Benefits: The Open Space and Recreation Plan identified a need for playgrounds and green space for children in this area. This would allow children to play while parents grab a bite to eat, enjoy music and entertainment, or just relax at the outdoor seating.

This lot is Town-owned and is located next to the current public dining in the parking lot.

7. Patio, Parks, and Play, Part II

The second part of the proposal would be to finish up the pocket park at 13 East Main St. This small park has been started, but needs an extra nudge to be completed.