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
- Keep community centers open on weekendsResident asks that all community centers stay open on weekends to give children, families and older adults a safe place to exercise and gather.2026–27City-wideRecreation facilities & sports
- Disability access fixtures in public doors and restroomsResident proposes kick-down door stoppers on public doors and grab rails and toilet seat safety rails in public restroom stalls to improve access for disabled people.2026–27City-wideOther or unclear
- More street lighting in high-crime areasResident asks for increased street lighting, especially in areas with crime, applying a consistent standard across neighborhoods to improve safety and equity.2026–27City-widePublic safety & crime prevention
- Speed bumps or raised crosswalks on Meridian StreetResident asks for speed bumps or raised crosswalks on Meridian Street in East Boston because cars speed at night, endangering pedestrian families.2026–27East BostonPedestrian & bike safety
- Public bleeding-control and overdose-response stationsResident proposes public stations with tourniquets, hemostatic gauze and naloxone, with free in-language training, sited in neighborhoods with the most violent trauma and overdoses.2026–27City-widePublic safety & crime prevention
- Public vegetable gardens on vacant city lotsResident asks to turn vacant, city-owned or tax-foreclosed lots into free or low-cost public vegetable gardens in neighborhoods with little green space and high food insecurity.2026–27City-wideParks, trees & climate
- Reduce street light pollution to protect sleepResident proposes lowering light pollution by changing street light fixture height and brightness, with neighborhood pilots and safety education, to protect residents' sleep and health.2026–27City-widePublic safety & crime prevention
- Community social workers in Dorchester, Mattapan, RoxburyResident asks for a dedicated social worker embedded in each Dorchester, Mattapan and Roxbury neighborhood to build trust and help people of color navigate systems.2026–27City-wideMental health & substance use
- Reliable internet for a poorly served areaResident says homes on and around Alwin Street have little or no wifi, hurting students' schoolwork and adults' ability to work from home, and asks for reliable internet access.2026–27Hyde ParkLibraries, digital & civic life
- Makerspaces in schools and community centersResident proposes makerspaces in neighborhood schools and community centers so people who cannot afford such spaces can create, learn, start businesses and save money.2026–27City-wideLibraries, digital & civic life
- Grants for worker-owned cooperativesResident requests grants for worker-owned cooperatives to spread worker ownership and reduce disparities between owners and the workers they employ.2026–27City-wideAdult jobs & small business
- Driver-owned rideshare cooperative partnershipResident asks the city to collaborate with a drivers' cooperative to bring driver-owned rideshare to Boston, as exists in NYC and Denver, to spread worker ownership.2026–27City-wideAdult jobs & small business
- Subsidized grocery trial and city-land produce gardensResident proposes a trial of subsidized groceries in the city's most disadvantaged areas, plus growing produce on city land to sell at a discount to grocery stores, to address food insecurity.2026–27City-wideFood access
- Bike safety campaign and better bike lane signageResident asks for public info campaigns on bike safety and better bike lane signs in West Roxbury, where motor vehicles use bike lanes and car doors open into them.2026–27City-widePedestrian & bike safety
- Teens leading games at neighborhood playgrounds year-roundResident asks to hire teenagers to run group games like kickball and tag at neighborhood playgrounds year-round, getting kids of all ages off screens.2026–27City-wideYouth jobs & fellowships
- More e-bikes and Bluebikes stationsResident asks the city to raise e-bikes to 50% of the Bluebikes fleet and add 100 more stations, noting many riders have lower incomes or are people of color.2026–27City-wideTransit & getting around
- Low-cost market or city grocery at Mass and CassResident asks for a low-cost farmers market or city-run grocery in the Mass and Cass area to end the food desert and support residents with health issues.2026–27RoxburyFood access
- Public storage sheds for community group toolsResident asks for storage sheds on public land so community groups like Keep Hyde Park Beautiful can store and lend tools easily, since many volunteers are seniors.2026–27City-wideParks, trees & climate
- Regional 311 app with request triageResident asks for a single Greater Boston 311 reporting app where staff route requests to the right municipality, sparing commuters from using multiple apps.2026–27City-wideLibraries, digital & civic life
- Water access for community beautification groupsResident asks for greater access to city water trucks or water carts so volunteer groups can water planted flowers and pollinator gardens without hauling bottles, as many volunteers are seniors.2026–27City-wideParks, trees & climate
- Restore youth jobs program at local organizationsResident asks to restore the youth jobs program employing young students and immigrants at local organizations.2026–27City-wideYouth jobs & fellowships
- Landscaped median on Dorchester Street, South BostonResident asks for a tree-landscaped median on Dorchester Street in South Boston to give pedestrians a safe refuge and let them cross one direction of traffic at a time.2026–27South BostonPedestrian & bike safety
- Give money back to taxpayersResident asks that funds be returned to taxpayers, believing the city is eager to spend every penny.2026–27City-wideOther or unclear
- Oppose surveillance cameras and smart city techResident asks the city not to expand surveillance cameras or become a smart city, citing constitutional rights and concerns about targeting of minorities and help to ICE.2026–27City-widePublic safety & crime prevention
- New community park in West RoxburyResident asks for a park in West Roxbury with benches, covered picnic areas and room for pickup games, giving people over age 10 a free place to gather.2026–27RoslindaleParks, trees & climate