The Mayor and Council of Princeton adopted Ordinance 25‑14 on Sept. 8 authorizing a lease of a portion of Community Park South’s tennis facility to the Princeton Tennis Program (PTP). The ordinance cited state local lands and buildings law and Green Acres constraints and passed by unanimous roll call.
Why it matters: The agreement formalizes a decades‑long partnership between the municipality and the Princeton Tennis Program to operate, program and maintain town tennis facilities and includes a stated developer contribution to court construction.
Council and public remarks: Councilmembers praised PTP’s long history managing programming and noted its work to broaden access to tennis for seniors, children and economically disadvantaged residents. A representative speaking for the PTP board commended municipal staff and the legal team for navigating Green Acres restrictions and said the board was eager to contribute funds and manage programming and maintenance.
Key clarifications recorded in the meeting: The Princeton Tennis Program will provide a $300,000 contribution toward the initial construction of the new tennis courts and will assume responsibility for ongoing program management and maintenance under the lease. The ordinance references New Jersey statutes addressing municipal leases of local lands and buildings (NJSA 40A:12‑14[c] and NJSA 40A:12‑15[i] as cited on the record). The lease and related construction remain subject to Green Acres restrictions and municipal procurement and permitting rules.
Outcome and next steps: The public hearing closed with no public opposition recorded, and the council approved the ordinance by roll call. Staff will implement the lease, oversee compliance with Green Acres requirements, and proceed with construction planning and procurement steps consistent with the lease terms.