Explore resident ideas
Every idea residents submitted to Ideas in Action in 2024–25, 2025–26 and 2026–27. Search the words residents used, or narrow by cycle, theme, neighborhood, language or how the idea was submitted.
Themes grouped with AI from resident idea text. English titles and summaries written with AI.
3,748 ideas
- Free citywide wifi networkCreate a free wifi network so everyone can access the internet for learning, banking and bill pay, closing the financial gap.2024–25City-wideLibraries, digital & civic life
- Housing and support for youth facing homelessnessFund housing and support services for youth experiencing homelessness or instability, giving marginalized young people safe and stable places to live.2024–25City-wideHomelessness & shelter
- Help neighbors pay rent and basic expensesProvide funds to help low-income neighbors pay rent and cover normal expenses they cannot afford, especially people of color.2024–25UnspecifiedAffordable housing & rent stability
- More pedestrian-only areas downtown and Newbury StreetMake Downtown Crossing and much of Newbury Street pedestrian-only because sidewalks cannot handle the foot traffic, especially on weekends.2024–25City-widePedestrian & bike safety
- Protected bike and stroller parkingProvide secure parking for bikes and strollers so people who bike and families with young children can store them safely, encouraging active transport.2024–25City-wideTransit & getting around
- Grant competition for worker-owned cooperativesHold a competition for low-income residents to win capital and technical help to start worker-owned cooperative businesses, promoting equitable entrepreneurship.2024–25City-wideAdult jobs & small business
- Rat birth control pilot and education in AllstonRun a pilot of rat birth control along with a public education campaign in Allston to control rodents.2024–25City-wideClean streets & restrooms
- Shaded, rain-protected benches without hostile designInstall benches with shade and rain protection that avoid anti-homeless design, so people can find relief from heat and storms.2024–25City-wideParks, trees & climate
- Cooling pavement and green roof support for heat islandsUse cooling pavement on city roads and parking lots, prioritizing heat islands, and offer grants and technical help for green roofs, since heat islands affect communities of color and health.2024–25City-wideParks, trees & climate
- Make Pier 5 in Charlestown Navy Yard a parkReserve Pier 5 in the Charlestown Navy Yard as a public park with harbor views and open space for all residents and visitors.2024–25CharlestownParks, trees & climate
- Neighbor alert service for street cleaning parkingSet up a peer-to-peer text alert service, like Tow Zone Alerts, so neighbors can warn each other about illegal parking and street cleaning, reducing costly fines and tows in low-income areas.2024–25City-wideLibraries, digital & civic life
- More year-round jobs for youthProvide more year-round employment opportunities for Boston youth.2024–25City-wideYouth jobs & fellowships
- Waive sick leave waiting period for new city employeesLet new city employees use sick leave immediately instead of after six months, so economically insecure workers are not forced to work while ill.2024–25City-wideOther or unclear
- Sensor-activated stop light on Eatonia StreetInstall a sensor-triggered stop light on Eatonia Street so cars leaving the Mellone Park and library parking areas toward North Harvard Street can exit safely.2024–25AllstonPedestrian & bike safety
- Legal spaces for graffiti and public artCreate free spaces in neighborhoods where teens, young adults and others can make paint and spray-paint art, which could also keep graffiti off businesses and buildings.2024–25City-wideArts & culture
- Stone chess tables in parks with only benchesAdd stone chess tables and seats to city parks that only have benches, giving residents without outdoor space a comfortable place to play, eat lunch or work.2024–25City-wideParks, trees & climate
- Paid caretakers for community gardensHire paid caretakers in each community garden to support gardeners, teach gardening, reduce pests, and manage a plot whose produce is donated to a local food bank.2024–25City-wideParks, trees & climate
- Renovate Veteran Center at Harvard Street Health CenterRenovate or rebuild the dilapidated Veteran Outreach Center at 895 Blue Hill Ave, Dorchester, to give veterans, behavioral health patients and other residents a dignified, healthy facility for services.2024–25DorchesterHealth care access
- More parks with age-appropriate activities for childrenResident asks for more neighborhood parks with age-appropriate activities for children, creating a space for new families to connect.2024–25Jamaica PlainParks, trees & climate
- Free landscaping and yard cleanup for seniorsResident asks for free yard help for seniors, including weeding, grass cutting and hedges, believing it would bring people together.2024–25City-wideOlder adult support
- Snow removal and grass cutting help for seniorsResident asks for help with snow removal and grass cutting for seniors, calling it a safety issue.2024–25RoxburyOlder adult support
- Sidewalk and street repairResident asks for sidewalk and street repairs.2024–25RoxburyStreet & sidewalk repair
- Fast internet and wifi in community centersResident asks for fast internet and wifi in all community centers because access is needed there.2024–25City-wideLibraries, digital & civic life
- Kid-height basketball hoops and wading pool at playgroundsResident asks for basketball hoops for children ages 5-12 and a wading pool for toddlers at neighborhood playgrounds.2024–25RoxburyParks, trees & climate
- Repair cracked sidewalks street by streetResident asks for broken, cracked concrete sidewalks to be fixed street by street because they are dangerous tripping hazards, especially for seniors.2024–25City-wideStreet & sidewalk repair