By Matthew Hersh

The brief glimpse of spring-like weather that descended on the region had the Princeton Mayor and Council envisioning how summertime in downtown Princeton can be even more welcoming to residents and visitors downtown.

Trash receptacle replacement, additional seating and benches, repaired and cleaned kiosks at Witherspoon Street and Vandeventer Avenue, flowering annual plantings and flower baskets, signage, additional bike parking, and enforcement of unlicensed newspaper boxes were on the list last week when Deanna Stockton, Princeton’s municipal engineer and deputy administrator, provided an update on the town’s Central Business District beautification efforts.

The affected areas include Nassau Street from Bayard Street to Moore Street, Witherspoon Street from Nassau Street to Paul Robeson Place, to Hinds Plaza.

Experience Princeton, Princeton’s special improvement district, is participating in the upgrades, Stockton said, by installing their latest versions of streetlight banners.

Trash receptacle functionality and uniformity were among the top priorities for the improvements, Stockton said, to address ease of trash collection and stemming related public works crewmember injuries, and prevent illegal dumping of household waste. Anticipated receptacle replacements will include side access to the trash bin for easier lifting, as well as a covered top to prevent snow and water from filling up the bins.

Funding for new receptacles would be offset by the town’s Clean Communities grant funding. Public works tested several different receptacles, including different strengths, materials, and functionality. Stockton said new receptacles could be installed as early as this year.

Additional seating and benches are part of the beautification efforts.

The relatively small improvements to the Central Business District coincide with Princeton’s current Nassau Streetscape Improvement Project. Nearly 10 years ago, the town launched an effort to revitalize the streetscape and improve the pedestrian experience on the north side of Nassau Street between Chambers and Moore streets. This effort began in 2016 with the development of Streetscape Design Guidelines. A concept plan was accepted by Princeton Council in 2023 and final design is underway. Construction is anticipated in 2027.

The Council will continue examining the timeframe for the more immediate improvements so as not to eclipse the construction timetable for the Nassau Streetscape Improvement Project.

Mayor Mark Freda sought clarity on timing regarding bench installation and plantings. “I dislike the idea of placing new seating on a street on sidewalks that we’re about to rip up,” he said. “[If] the seating is put in a pile somewhere, it will get damaged and marked up before it gets brought back.”

Freda also asked the town to be “frugal” regarding the kiosk cleanups, particularly with last month’s Council discussion where it was announced that both Nassau Street kiosks, one at Witherspoon Street and one at Vandeventer Avenue, must be removed for sidewalk replacement work. At that discussion, Stockton recommended permanently removing the kiosk at Witherspoon, and transforming the one at Vandeventer into a combination of new electronic signage and the current, informal surfaces where public postings are permitted. (See related story on page 10.)

Regarding removing illegal newspaper boxes, Freda said, “Let me know and I’ll put them in the back of my truck and find a dump to put them in.” Other Council members echoed that assertion as they discussed the licensure process and the removal process for out-of-compliance newspaper box owners.

Councilman David Cohen noted that residents would benefit from additional seating downtown, and suggested widening the footprint area for new benches further than what was proposed.

“There might not be many more locations, but we should at least look at it,” he said.

Councilwoman Leticia Fraga said new benches placed on Nassau Street should be of the same style and function of what is planned for Witherspoon Street.

Councilman Leighton Newlin said seating should be ample for all foot travelers in town, old and young. “I don’t think there should be any shortage of benches either on Nassau Street or Witherspoon street. We have all these restaurants and shops and people need a place to sit down,” he said. “People need to rest. That is what a welcoming community is all about.”