Princeton Approves $81,200 Contract Extension For Grover Park Flood Mitigation

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton Council has authorized an $81,200 contract extension for engineering services related to the Grover Avenue Culvert Replacement Project, bringing the total agreement value to $211,137.

The municipality originally awarded a professional services contract to Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. (GPI) in November 2023 for $129,937 over 12 months. The additional funding will support preliminary hydraulic and park improvement design work in Grover Park.

The contract extension targets chronic stormwater management problems in Grover Park, where flooding during severe weather events affects both the recreational area and downstream properties along Harrys Brook.

"This contract has to do with planning for better stormwater management in Grover Park, which is desperately needed," said Councilman David Cohen. "The park floods regularly in extreme storm events and downstream neighbors as well suffer along that branch of Harrys Brook. So I'm really excited to see this first step towards the upgrades to Grover Park, which we've been anticipating for a couple of years."

Harrys Brook Tributary 2 flows through Grover Park between the Princeton Shopping Center and Grover Avenue. The existing culvert system consists of multiple drainage pipes that cannot handle projected future storm flows.

During the design phase, GPI discovered that even upgraded infrastructure cannot prevent all flooding. According to Assistant Municipal Engineer Jim Purcell, future 100-year storm flows based on New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection rainfall projections would still cause flooding without unacceptably impacting a downstream residential property.

"It was determined that flooding of Grover Park will occur in the future, as it does today, during such a storm event," Purcell explained in a memo to Council.

Rather than attempting to eliminate flooding entirely, the proposed design works with natural water patterns. Plans include:

• Elevated walkways on boardwalks positioned above flood levels

• A raised picnic area to remain accessible during high water

• Rehabilitation of the existing basketball court

• Playground upgrades designed to withstand flooding

• Replacement of the footbridge crossing the stream

The comprehensive approach acknowledges that some flooding is inevitable while ensuring park amenities remain functional and safe for residents.

Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com