The Town of Princeton voted Jan. 5 to move $26,100 in leftover proceeds from a house sale into parks and recreation funds and to combine that money with an $84,814 Johnson County grant as seed funding for the town’s parks-and-recreation master plan. Town staff and consultants said the pooled funds would be used to pursue a state ‘part‑of’ grant (application due May 1) and then a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) match, potentially multiplying the town’s investment.

Planner Sarah Parks, whose firm is working on the master plan, told the board the presentation tonight was an update and that “we’re not seeking the approval tonight,” but noted the plan and survey results would support grant applications. Town staff said combining the county grant and the house-sale proceeds would create roughly $140,000–$150,000 to use as local match; if the part‑of grant and an LWCF match succeed, the funding could grow substantially, officials said.

Town staff described the timeline: the part‑of grant application is due May 1, and the LWCF funding window opens Jan. 27; awards from the May application would be known in the fall, with the LWCF decision later in 2027. The board discussed priority projects identified in the public survey — improved trails and sidewalks, playground upgrades, shade and gathering spaces, and options such as a splash pad or dog park — and staff emphasized that grant eligibility requires following the state’s planning best practices.

A majority of board members noted the need to hold the grant match funds in a designated budget line while applications are pending. The motion to allocate the $26,100 to parks and to pursue the grant strategy passed by voice vote (recorded by the chair as 4–0). The town’s consultants said they would return with draft plan materials for staff review and a full plan presentation in the spring.