Town to use $45,000 grant for parks master plan, new Princeton signs; Sage Design selected

The Town of Princeton on June 2 authorized use of a $45,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce to produce a parks and recreation master plan and to replace two town entrance signs. The board voted 4-0 to select Sage Design to prepare the master plan at a reduced cost of $25,000 and to proceed with sign procurement and installation.

Town Administrator T. A. King said the grant — awarded through East Carolina University — was written to cover a park and recreation master plan and new entrance signs. Staff issued a request for qualifications, received four proposals and scored vendors; Sage Design received the highest score and agreed to reduce its fee from $27,025 to $25,000 because the firm can rely on previous citizen‑input work from a recent intern and earlier data collection.

Sign quotes in the packet showed two options: Raleigh Area Masonry (referred to in the packet as “Grama”) quoted $28,005.52 for a 7'3" by 13'3" stone sign, and another vendor (listed as Veil Signs) quoted $26,500 for a 5' by 12' sign. King recommended purchasing the larger stone signs and covering the approximately $14,617 shortfall with fee‑in‑lieu funds allocated for parks and open space. Staff said the grant must be spent by Dec. 31, 2025.

Commissioners discussed sign size and placement, the grant timeline and how the remaining funds would be allocated; the board approved the master plan award and moved to purchase the signs and use fee‑in‑lieu funds for the difference. Staff said the signs will replace existing, smaller welcome signs at two town entrances and that sign landscaping and footings were quoted separately.