More than 1,500 people voted for ideas in this year’s Ülemiste City participatory budget, and the winning idea was an ice rink with skate rental. Ideas could be submitted from January until the end of February, and nearly 50 ideas were submitted in total. Second and third place went to a café for working and a community food cabinet. 

The idea of creating a winter ice rink with skate rental in the district received 486 votes. The next step will be to find a suitable location and an implementer for the ice rink that fits within the €36,000 allocated for the participatory budget. 

The most popular ideas this year were: 

• Ice rink with skate rental: 486 votes 
• Ülemiste City café for working: 387 votes 
• Food cabinet to reduce food waste: 384 votes 
• Green areas with benches on parking garage roofs: 295 votes 
• Outdoor gym: 271 votes 
• Nest swing area in Ülemiste City Park: 226 votes 

The annual participatory budgeting idea collection allows the community to actively shape and improve its environment. Funding for the participatory budget comes from the Ülemiste City Community Fund. 

This year, based on a decision by the advisory board, the Community Fund will also finance the creation of permanently landscaped green corners with raised curbs at road intersections. In addition, a project for a new playground in Ülemiste City Park will be developed, and support will be provided for the creation of a community mobile application.