The Princeton Council has approved a one-year extension of the lease between the town and the Princeton Tennis Program, which offers tennis lessons to the community at Community Park South on Witherspoon Street.
The old lease expired Feb. 28. The new lease took effect March 1 and will expire Feb. 28, 2026. Until last year, there was a three-year lease. The change to a one-year lease with the option to renew was made to allow for potential facility changes at Community Park South.
The Princeton Tennis Program, which is a nonprofit group, leases 12 of the 15 tennis courts at the Community Park South tennis facility for $32,000 per year. It had previously leased 15 tennis courts.
The three remaining tennis courts are dedicated for pickleball. The pickleball courts are open daily from dawn to dusk on a first-come, first-serve basis, according to the Princeton Recreation Department.
Princeton Council members Michelle Pirone Lambros and Leighton Newlin both praised the Princeton Tennis Program.
Pirone Lambros thanked the Princeton Tennis Program and the Princeton Recreation Department for their continued collaboration on the tennis program, which has been a great partner with the town.
“Over the long haul, the Princeton Tennis Program has done a good job of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), equity and making sure they included people of color in the neighborhood (in their outreach efforts),” Newlin said.
“They make sure there is equitable outreach in everything they do in the program. We appreciate it. The program does a good job in tennis lessons and keeping diversity at the top of their list.”
The Princeton Tennis Program will notify the town of the start and end dates for the season, which typically runs from mid-April to mid-October.
Leasing the 12 tennis courts to the Princeton Tennis program does not restrict the public’s use of those tennis courts. The public may use the tennis courts before and after the Princeton Tennis Program season.
During Princeton Tennis Program’s season, the public may also use the tennis courts via a daily pass and/or open court time available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Community Park South consists of the tennis and pickleball courts, baseball fields, a large multipurpose athletic field, a dog park, a walking trail around its perimeter and a picnic pavilion. Two basketball courts and a playground are located next to the Community Park School.
