Proposed Redesign of Hinds Plaza Draws Skeptical Response From Princeton Council

Rendering of proposed redesign for Hinds Plaza in Princeton.

A proposal to reimagine Hinds Plaza, the public square next to Princeton Public Library, got a cool response at the meeting of Princeton Council on October 28. Princeton engineer Deanna Stockton claimed that the redesign was needed, because the plaza is 20 years old and needs to be refreshed. The town of Princeton hired consultants from Arterial LLC to consult with the public and come up with ideas for improvements. But the concept plan did not seem to find much enthusiasm from Princeton Council members or other members of the public.

James Ribaudo, one of the consultant team, led a presentation outlining the various proposals for a new Hinds Plaza. A key idea is to try to extend and open up the square, to provide more space for public events. Pavers would extend the square right to the edge of Witherspoon Street, where new green landscaping features would help with stormwater runoff. The trees in the square would be replaced and relocated, with the new trees growing in properly designed tree pits that allow the roots to spread and the trees to remain healthy. Ribaudo said that the existing trees in the square were at the end of their lives, and needed to be replaced. A new stage for performances or speechifying would be installed in the square near the Princeton Public Library.

Proposal for redesigned Hinds Plaza, with the monumental gateways relocated closer to the street.

New seating in Hinds Plaza would be moveable, like the existing tables and chairs, but the new design would also feature some new ‘sculptural seating’, which Ribaudo said was similar to that used in the pedestrian mall in Division Street, in Somerville NJ. The total amount of seating in the plaza would increase. Ribaudo also had some specific ideas for the ‘pergola’ on the far side of the plaza. The overgrown wisteria on the pergola would be cut back, and the pillars would be re-clad with a material that would allow new art installations. A ‘pergola swing’, as shown in the image below, would allow plaza users to swing as they rested in the square.

Proposed concepts for the ‘pergola’ at the south side of Hinds Plaza

Not everyone seemed impressed by the proposal, however. Council member Eve Niedergang worried that the central part of the plaza would have insufficient shade, and could be very hot in summer. She also worked that there was too much orange color in the scheme, a color which she said was associated with Princeton University, and not the town. Mayor Mark Freda had a list of concerns, including a fear that the trees would be planted too close together, and that the plaza needed further safety installations to prevent somebody from driving a car into it from Witherspoon Street. Mayor Freda also seemed unenthusiastic about keeping the ‘pergola’, because he feels it acts as a ‘wall’ that stops people from seeing the businesses on the edge of Hinds Plaza. The Mayor also said that he was “not a fan” of the proposed sculptural seating, which he said looked really uncomfortable.

Relocated trees in the concept plan for a new Hinds Plaza in Princeton

Council member Leticia Fraga was not convinced that the redesign gave sufficient prominence to the memorial gateway for Albert E. Hinds, the longtime local resident who was memorialized with the naming of the square as ‘Hinds Plaza’. Council member Leighton Newlin agreed, and said “I want to see this plaza scream about the history of African-Americans in Princeton”.

Rendering of proposed redesign for Hinds Plaza, showing proposed ‘sculptural seating’ and stage.

Kim Dorman, the community engagement director at Princeton Public Library, said that she felt that the proposed redesign would cause a net loss of public space for the public. She also felt that the proposed stage would be an obstacle for many existing uses of the square. Ms. Dorman expressed hope that a redesign might “celebrate water” and recognize the legacy of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians. Leighton Newlin reinforced this point and hoped that a redesigned Hinds Plaza would “pay homage to the Lenni-Lenape“. Phoning in to the meeting, local resident Michael Floyd expressed concern that the benches in the plaza might be too low to be comfortable for use by many plaza users. Princeton Public Library Executive Director Jennifer Podolsky also called in to say that she did not think the proposed new design would work better for the visibility or activities of the library.

Michelle Pirone-Lambros is the Council member who is directly managing the plan to redesign Hinds Plaza. She noted the issues raised by colleagues, and said that there would be continued work to improve the design. It does not seem likely that there will be any changes to Hinds Plaza any time soon.

Related materials (via princetonnj.gov):