Princeton Approves Tennis Facility Lease With Major Renovation Investment

PRINCETON, NJ – The Princeton Council unanimously approved a long-term lease agreement Monday that will transfer operation of the Community Park South Tennis Facility to the Princeton Tennis Program, while securing up to $600,000 in capital improvements for court renovations.

The agreement covers 15 tennis courts and associated facilities, including the existing tennis shed, marking a significant expansion of the partnership between the municipality and PTP, which has provided accessible tennis programming to residents for years.

Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros highlighted the fiscal advantages of the arrangement, noting that court maintenance has strained municipal resources in recent years.

“The past years, the repairs and maintenance have really cost the taxpayers, because we have not been able really to cover costs. So going forward, once we are able to do the construction of the new tennis courts, Princeton tennis will not only be doing this $300,000 contribution towards the beginning of the new construction, but they will also be covering all the costs as well,” the Councilwoman said.

According to the ordinance, PTP will continue to operate twelve of the tennis courts at the Facility and will make capital contributions up to $600,000 to Princeton towards the cost of the court renovations.

In exchange they get a new, multi-year Lease Agreement to cover PTP’s use and operation of the Facility after the Project’s completion in or around 2026.

Under the lease terms, PTP will make staged capital contributions - $30,000 when construction begins, $270,000 upon completion, and additional $150,000 payments at the start of the second and third optional renewal periods.

The initial lease runs five years, with options for three additional five-year renewals, potentially extending the agreement to 20 years total. The renovated facility is expected to be completed around 2026, when PTP will assume full operational control of 12 courts.

The lease requires approval from the Department of Environmental Protection and must comply with applicable environmental regulations.

Councilman Leighton Newlin praised the Municipality and PTP for making the program equitable.

“We really seek to extend those values throughout the neighborhood,” Newlin said. “I'm really proud that we're continuing on a good and long-term relationship.”

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