By Anne Levin

During a work session at its meeting Monday evening, Princeton Council heard a report on the proposed renovation of Community Park South, the 26-acre expanse bordered by Route 206, Birch Avenue, Community Park School, and Community Park Pool.

Since last February, a steering committee made up of municipal staff; two members of Council; and representatives from the Princeton Environmental Commission, the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, the public schools, and other stakeholders — along with Suburban Consulting Engineers — have been holding public meetings and soliciting information through public surveys.

Seven possible concept designs were considered before the Princeton Recreation Commission recommended Concept A, “following strong considerations that whenever possible open space for structured and unstructured play should be provided, and that mayor and Council should work to provide additional parking convenient to the site,” according to a letter sent to Mayor Mark Freda and Council last week.

The proposed design includes the construction of new tennis courts, pickleball courts, a new paddle tennis court facility, two restrooms, and new playing fields for coached and non-coached sports. Two fields for softball and baseball would be oriented to angles of the sun to accommodate right-handed and left-handed batters.

Extensive landscaping improvements and additions include the retention of mature trees and the removal of invasive plants, particularly along Route 206. A family zone would include a new, accessible playground; game tables; sitting areas; picnic spaces; and a large green area, with shelters from wet weather.

The two existing dog parks would be improved, at a cost of $1,350,000. Other improvement costs include $1,900,000 for the new tennis courts, $600,000 for irrigation, $950,000 for landscaping, and $400,000 for playground equipment and surfacing. The total projected cost is $28,125,600 if sports lighting is included, $24,125,600 if it is not.

“What we want to do tonight is get feedback from Council on what the Recreation Commission has voted on and

has recommended,” said Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros, who was on the steering committee. “Then, what we would do next is take that concept, and go to engineer drawings, and start to work on the estimated budget and see where we can raise money.”

Instead of putting the financial burden on taxpayers, the town would look at opportunities for state, federal, or county funding, as well as infrastructure funding and grants, Pirone added.

Evan Moorhead, executive director of the Princeton Recreation Department, said the park hasn’t been upgraded since it was built in the 1960s. “This is a fantastic and exciting opportunity from the staff perspective, to rehabilitate Community Park South,” he said. “It should be the crown of our park system.”

The presented design is not final. The majority of Council members expressed enthusiasm, with Council President Mia Sacks calling it “just spectacular” and Leighton Newlin thanking the committee for being “tree sensitive” and “giving a nod to the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood.”

Councilman David Cohen had some questions about lighting and the placement of the soccer field. Councilwoman Eve Niedergang expressed concerns about the number of buildings, such as pavilions with bathrooms, that are included in the design concept. She also suggested permeable pavement for the walking/biking path to make the site more sustainable.

Council agreed, informally, to give the committee the go-ahead to continue. The next step is to put it out for design proposals and work through the budget process.