Borough Will Pay $57,000 For Tree Grates in Public Plaza

Candace Braun

Atom-shaped tree grates for the new public plaza were approved at a cost of $57,000 at Borough Council's July 13 meeting.

The 12 tree grates will be designed by West Windsor artist Francois Guillemin, also known as Le Corbeau. Measured at 8 1/2 feet in diameter, each grate will be laser cut into the design of a carbon atom and will cost approximately $4,750, which includes design, craftsmanship, and installation of the wrought-iron grates.

The approximate cost for tree grates if they were purchased off-the-shelf would have been $22,000, or $1,800 per grate.

All the furnishings for the plaza, which will be located adjacent to the new Princeton Public Library, will be highly decorative thanks to a $150,000 donation from Princeton University. The University's donation replaced the $102,200 the Borough had put aside to pay for the furnishings, and has allowed the Plaza Art Committee to come up with a more decorative design for the furnishings, which will reflect Princeton's identity. The donation will pay for chairs, tables, benches, tree grates, planters, bicycle racks, and a $13,000 bus shelter.

Mr. Guillemin will receive a deposit of $28,500 to begin, $14,250 when the project is 50 percent complete, and another $14,250 when it is finished.

Delivery and completion of the project is predicted for early October. Downtown merchants are currently planning an opening celebration for the new plaza on October 30.