To the Editor:
For many Princeton residents, this winter’s big freeze sparked excitement about skating and walking on Lake Carnegie. Expectantly, we waited for the white flags signaling safe lake access. When they did not appear, we went looking for answers and were surprised and dismayed to learn that the town last year — without public notice or opportunity to comment — decided that skating on the lake would no longer be permitted.
In years past, the magic of the white flag going up was felt throughout the town. It was a spontaneous, drop-everything event that brought the community together for active outdoor fun. Following a well-established and neighborly tradition, Princeton University allowed use of the lake after ice testing by the town. By measuring the thickness and quality of the ice, and clearly marking areas with potential hazards, the town identified a designated skating area and managed public access to ensure safety. The resulting “lake days” formed some of our favorite community memories.
What changed? As we understand it, last winter, the town administrator conducted a deliberative process based on legitimate concerns to reach a decision. But there was no discussion by the full town Council or a vote, and many (most?) Council members were unaware of the decision.The new policy was communicated through edits to the list of approved skating spots on the municipal website.
Both this year and last, without the rigorous testing of the ice and establishment of clear boundaries, people have ventured onto the ice in a much less controlled and more dangerous way.
Thankfully, in response to residents’ requests, the Council added the issue to its February 9 meeting agenda. The administrator reported on the internal process and the key considerations. The mayor and Council members spoke, and members of the public testified. (Unfortunately, the data cited mischaracterized the long history of skating on the lake, noting skating in 1996 and in 2014. Our family photos show that public skating also took place in 2003, 2007, 2009, and 2015.)
Most importantly, what’s next? We are confident we can sit down together with town officials and staff and figure out how other places make winter skating work, including how to safely test the ice, prepare for emergencies, and manage parking. Together, using a problem-solving mindset, we can explore compromise solutions that reestablish safe winter lake access while minimizing government expenses.
We ask the mayor and Council to please work together with their staff and community members so that Princeton is ready to resume its special lake skating tradition on the rare, magical days it is cold enough to be out on the ice.