Are you aware of what’s around you, or do you tend to not pay much attention, and stick to the same old places and routines? As summer approaches, maybe it’s time to learn more and check out all that is available, right nearby in the Princeton area.

For the June issue of Princeton Perspectives, Become More Aware of the Amazingness Around Princeton, we give you a little more insight into what is around, offering a look inside some religious, business and political sites, activities, and other experiences.

We’re starting out the June issue with some new information on stories we’ve covered in the past. This month’s Perspectives Revisited informs of an expanded natural trail, as well as some changes in New Jersey climate initiatives. Read the latest now.

What hidden gem have you discovered around greater Princeton? We asked locals to share theirs with us, to give you some new ideas for the summer. Watch this month’s Pulse of Princeton to get inspired.

New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy guest writes for us this month, providing a great look into Drumthwacket, that large white mansion that you drive past on Rt. 206/Stockton Street. Though it is the official residence of the New Jersey governor, it has only been the full-time residence for 3 sitting governors – Florio, McGreevey and Corzine. So, what has it been used for since 2007? Read Restoring Drumthwacket: Returning the People’s House to the People to find out more.

If you would like to try something different this summer, but are unsure where to begin, let us get you started. The article Take Advantage of Summer Possibilities for Your Mind & Body shares some physical and mental experiences that you may be new to you.

If you might like to explore something really interesting this summer, Are You Aware of the Rich Opportunities the Diversity Around Princeton Offers? This article takes a deep dive into three religious sites that are truly unique. They are all places that welcome in the greater community, so this summer is your chance to check them out.

Another place that you likely have passed in your travels is the campus of ETS, at the corner of Rosedale and Carter Roads. Chances are if you have not encountered ETS in some way, someone you know has. The article Global Impact, Local Roots: Inside the World of ETS sheds light on what is happening on this Princeton campus and beyond, and why it matters.

Summer is a time that scams often become more common, so this month, Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello has something important to share with our readers. Her Letter to the Editor tells you what is happening and what needs to be done to protect people from fraud.

Whether you sit down with your tablet outside, take a break in the air conditioning on your desktop or catch a glimpse on your phone as you wait for an appointment, we are grateful that you are reading Princeton Perspectives. Please let us know if there is something going on that we should be covering, by emailing our Editor now.

Hoping this gets you inspired as you enjoy the start of summer!

Warm summer weather provides the opportunity to get out and explore. And there is so much around the Princeton area to take advantage of. So why not push yourself one weekend, or after work one night, and engage your mind or body in something new?

Psychologists suggest there are many benefits to doing so, as new experiences can stimulate your mind to rewire and adapt, enhance your mood through dopamine release and often give you a new sense of purpose.

What inspires you to get moving? What can get you to engage in different way? Here we highlight a handful of options that may spark your interest.

IT’S A SLAM DUNK

We’ll start with something easy – that simply requires you to show up. That is experiencing Princeton Recreation Men’s Summer Basketball League. Before you worry about the need for skill and stamina, know that this year’s league is already set and not taking any more entrants. So, you can’t be a player, but you can be part of the cheering crowd (or a silent observer, whichever you prefer). This league is nothing like you’d expect from suburban, evening, recreation. It is intense, it gets real, and quite lively.

You need look no further than the league’s famous tagline to understand the commitment and spirit of those involved – ‘You gotta finish in this league!’ is announced at the games, on the players’ t-shirts and it is no joke.

“It is one of the premier competitive summer basketball leagues in the area. Over the course of our 36-years we have had many current and former Division 1, 2 and 3 college basketball players participate in our league. The league has also been a favorite summer gathering spot for many in the community that enjoy watching basketball outdoors on a summer evening,” explains Princeton Recreation Department Executive Director, Evan Moorhead. “Groups must form their own squad in order to enter, keeping in mind that the level of competition may not be suitable for everyone.”

If you want to see what it’s all about, head to Community Park (or in inclement weather, check the schedule for an indoor location). Play is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings starting at 7:15pm. After watching some games, if you feel like you want in, prepare a team for next year then reach out to Moorhead in early spring 2026 with a full team roster (registration is not individual). Returning teams get first option, but if there’s room, we’ll see you on the court.

I’M GOING TO LAP YOU!

If you are ready to dive in and get active now, Princeton Recreation also has a great way for you to splash. Princeton Area Masters Swim, the longest running Masters Swim Program in New Jersey, is a lap swim opportunity that gets your body moving first thing in the morning.

“The program is offered 6-days per week in the summer (Mon-Fri 5:45-7:30am and Sat 6-7:30am),” Moorhead shares. “The program appeals to lap swimmers of different abilities and swim speeds that want to swim during the early morning time slot and that may appreciate being part of the community of other lap swimmers. While many master swimmers are former competitive swimmers, that is not a requirement and there are certainly many participants that did not compete at a high level.”

While offered year-round at Princeton University DeNunzio Pool (where US Masters Swimming membership is required), anyone can take part in the summer session at Community Park Pool without such membership. The summer session is good until September and is less than $300 for non-residents (half that, for residents).

SPLASHIN’ AROUND FOR FUN

As you consider a new venture, keep in mind you can get active without a membership or any competition. If you simply enjoy the water, but are not a lap swimmer, there is a unique opportunity right here in Mercer County to jump in.

Hopewell Quarry is a community space that give you options, offering the natural water of the quarry as well as a traditional swimming pool. A 7-acre property complete with dressing rooms, a picnic area and volleyball court, it has existed in various forms since 1928. The quarry has been both a public and private swimming area, sometimes open for use and other times closed off. But even when it meant climbing over the fence, people have continuously found ways to take advantage.

“In 1946 the first in-ground swimming pool of the area was built. Later, an admissions booth was added, dressing rooms were installed, and the first Quarry snack shack or ‘refreshment building’ was completed,” details Hopewell Quarry Operations Manager Katie Genovesi. “Newspaper articles from 1946, 1949 and 1951 reported that the Quarry Swim Club, along with the American Red Cross, held spectacular Water Carnivals every summer. There were diving competitions off the cliffs that drew huge crowds and demonstrations on water safety and boating were also given.”

True to its past, Quarry Olympics continue to be held today. Friends of Hopewell Quarry purchased the area and turned it into a swim facility in 2022. New this year, day passes are available however if you plan to go often, season passes are also for sale. The space offers swim lessons, wellness classes, room to train for a triathlon or even to just enjoy a picnic. It is also available for work functions, camp outings and private parties.

“Unlike other traditional swim clubs, we love to partner with local community members to do things like sell the Bent Spoon Ice cream, offer drumming and yoga classes taught by local instructors, forge partnerships with other local nonprofits such as Sourland Conservancy and The Watershed Institute, as well as offer bilingual staff to ensure all patrons feel welcomed,” adds Genovesi. “The Quarry is a special place that transcends time. It encourages people to build and be in community. We do not have a waiting list for season passes because we are open for everyone, regardless of location, to enjoy time spent together.”

PUTTING PENCIL TO PAPER

Perhaps you prefer a new experience that is less physical and more about camaraderie while enjoying something you love. Have you heard about Princeton Sketchers? This group formed thanks to local Andrea Rubinstein, who was seeking to sketch with others in her retirement. It might help you to feel more present, supported and fulfilled too.

“I began to sketch things in my everyday life that captured my attention or seemed significant. By forcing me to closely pay attention to the moment, I quickly realized that these sketches, no matter how wonky they were, created more vivid memories for me than all those quick photographs I had been taking [when traveling]. I was hooked!” Rubinstein details. “Along the way, I discovered there were large international communities of sketchers out there meeting up to learn, share tips, and sketch together.”

After moving to Princeton in 2018, Rubinstein started to gather sketchers to meet up. This transformed into Princeton Public Library’s Princeton Sketchers, a group of nearly a dozen people that meet bi-monthly (2^nd Tuesday and last Wednesday of the month, both at the library through July, with the 2^nd meeting location announced through Facebook thereafter). After connecting at the library, the sketchers spend about 2 hours on their works, then meet up again to share what they have created.

Some regulars, some pop-ins, the sketchers include a former textile designer, past journalist and a retired teacher. Some of them met each other in sketch school, and all are hoping to get back into the habit of sketching regularly, as they find it helps them to become more observant, meditative and find it quite therapeutic.

“We encourage everyone not to be shy and share their work, as it is the highlight of each meeting,” Rubinstein says. “Our meetups are a fun way to share, discover or rediscover a love of drawing. A solitary activity is turned into a group event. We share ideas and learn tips from each other (although there is no formal instruction) and of course, make new like-minded friends. We welcome beginners and cherish our individual styles. There are no rules – you can draw whatever suits your fancy, using whatever medium you wish.”

Princeton Sketchers will meet next on June 25^th. You can learn more by joining their moderated Facebook Group.

LEARNIN’ SOMETHING NEW

For some, the creativity is enticing. Others want to learn something new in a more structured environment. For you, Mercer County Community College (MCCC) has offerings which include summer non-credit and continuing education courses. From health and natural sciences to language, art or business classes, there are a wide array of classes for professionals. There are also courses ‘Just for Fun’ such as in photography, wine, fitness and more.

“Our goal is to offer lifelong learning opportunities that meet emerging business and professional development needs as well as personal interests of those in the community we serve,” explains MCCC Center for Continuing Studies Program Coordinator Andrea Bash. “We strive to stay current on the trends in the job force so that we may best prepare our students to excel in their career or embark on a new one. We offer a wealth of classes and programs that update skills, provide new and improved certifications and enable growth both professionally and personally.”

Once college age or above, you are neither too young nor too old to try one of the MCCC summer offerings. All you need is some time and desire, and you are on your way.

So, make the commitment to yourself this summer and try something different offered nearby. Be a spectator, get physical, engage your mind or the artist within. You may be surprised how much it may help you to enjoy the summer.

One of the things that makes the Princeton area so amazing is its diversity, including of cultures and religions. It is filled with places of worship for Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and more. In fewer than 20 minutes driving down Rt. 27/Nassau Street you will pass a Buddhist temple, Hindu Mandir and Jewish Synagogues. You’ll drive by Presbyterian, Lutheran, Catholic and Episcopal Churches. And just a few yards further, you’ll find Princeton Theological Seminary.

Beyond the spiritual opportunities they all offer, each also brings with it amazing architecture, community and opportunity. Here, we will highlight three such spaces found in the greater Princeton area, that provide for the needs of their own people as well as opening up to the community-at-large. In doing so, there are ways for us to learn more about who and what is around us; for us all to share experiences and understand each other a little better.

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham 

One site, found by travelling east to Robbinsville, was built to embrace the ideal that there is more that unites us than sets us apart. It is BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, which was welcomed by its surrounding community when it fully opened in 2023. You will have to travel to India to find the only two other Akshardhams like it in the world. Built over millions of hours, by hand, with the help of 12,500 volunteers, the 185-acre campus is a sight to see. Its Robbinsville location was chosen because of its easy accessibility within the northeast, and within NJ, which has the largest concentration of Hindus in the United States.

Upon arriving, you will approach a 49-foot sacred image of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Founder and worshipped as god in the Swaminarayan tradition. Before him, you encounter a map of India, which follows the 7-year journey he took in the 1790s to uplift others. Standing in yoga pose, his golden image welcomes you to the spiritual campus.

Before he died, Swaminarayan established a lineage of successors, and this Robbinsville campus was the vision of his 5^th successor, Pramukh Swami Maharaj. He was vital in choosing the lot, which first opened with a section of spiritual assembly halls and a smaller mandir in 2012. But he passed in 2016 and never got to see it completed. It was his successor, Mahant Swami Maharaj, that was able to be there for the 2023 opening when it became a campus that includes Brahm Kund Pond at the front, and a Welcome Center adorned with 2,700 lamps in columns just behind it. As one approaches the Akshardham or grand mandir, granite lines the floor, sandstone is around the perimeter, limestone is outside of the building and the interior is marble – all sourced from around the world. Princeton local, Chaitali Inamdar, is one of the volunteers who spent four months working at the site and now dedicates time to help others appreciate it. She helped lay the grout around the floor outside the temple.

“I was born and brought up in the faith. It was part of my routine to come to mandir. In 2007, I was part of a national convention in a spiritually charged environment, and it became a part of me,” Inamdar explains. And then the opportunity arose to have a hand in building the Akshardham, she took it. “I wanted to do it for myself and my future. When else would I have an opportunity like this, to give to something much bigger than myself?”

Nearly half of the visitors to the campus are non-Indian, so there is an opportunity to watch orientation videos in the welcome center, if wanted. Then, you can enter the main mandir, or temple, where you’ll take off your shoes and wash your hands, before coming upon the large central shrine of the 1^st Spiritual leader, with a smaller statue of his 1^st successor next to him. Beyond there, you will encounter shrines to 12 others, as well as tributes to some others who are worshipped in Hinduism. You can learn through the stories of 78 of the 500 people that took the journey with Swami Narayan. In all, there are more than 10,000 statues and statuettes depicting Hindu culture, 235 Mandapams (decorative stone canopies) and 548 stone pillars amongst other meaningful decorations. The orientation and design of the mandir was all dictated in scripture.

Careful pride was also taken to incorporate welcoming moments for non-Hindus, such as the inclusion of stained-glass windows, normally found in a church. The mandir also has positive messages along the outside wall, including those from Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Einstein.

Nearly everyone involved is a volunteer, and the hope is for it to be a holistic place to cherish traditions including spirituality, food, gathering and learning. BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir is a unique opportunity in our back yard. There is no cost to enter but to help ensure a peaceful experience, an advance reservation system has been put in place where one can reserve timed-entry slots on weekends, national holidays and Hindu festivals.

The New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center

If you travel north from Princeton up Route 27, you will find another impressive sight, at the only Buddhist temple in the area. It started with just a modest home, turned temple when The New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center first opened on the property in 2003. But it was when the largest Buddha statue in the Western Hemisphere was erected that this landmark became an attraction as well. Standing 30-feet tall, the Buddha was unveiled in 2009. Then in 2019, construction began on a new meditation center behind it. Creating a welcoming space for people of all religions to come for retreats, meditation, yoga, religious school, find peace and gather together for inter-faith dialogue. It is all the brainchild of Chief Incumbent Bhante H Sirirathana, the head monk.

“In all Buddhist temples in America, the Buddha statues are inside the temples. I had the idea to get the Buddha outside for people to see. Since the land is 10-acres, it allows for the right opportunity for people to see it,” Sirirathana shares.

The very first image of Buddha, to represent Siddhartha Gautama, was not built until 500 years after his passing, so no one knows for sure if it truly looks like him. It is more about what he embodies, and you often find statues representing him in one of three poses. The statue on this property has Buddha in the “Samadhior ” sedentary meditating position. A sacred space for observant Buddhists, this center creates a sanctuary for all.

“We’re not trying to create Buddhists. This is about offering opportunities for people to come find peace. The Buddha was an enlightened human, a meditator. He found a path to be liberated from the cycle of suffering, and he taught this path for 45 years.”

Currently, The New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center welcomes approximately 100 visitors each day, especially in the summer months. People come by from all nations, though the temple is maintained by the Sri Lankan Buddhist community with most non-American visitors hailing from Nepal, Myanmar, China and Burma.

Everything on site is funded through contributions. Though work on the new meditation center began six years ago, COVID and financial issues led to delays in construction. There is hope that by the end of this year, the whole project will be complete. At that point, it will include the meditation hall, quarters for visiting monks as well as public gatherings. The original house will be removed and replaced with a meditation garden. It is all free to enjoy.

Princeton Theological Seminary

One could also wander around the campus freely, and take part in some of the offerings, at Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS). Situated along Stockton Street, Mercer and Alexander Roads, it is thought by those unfamiliar to be an extension of the Princeton University campus. But the Seminary is a separate institution like no other site in the area, as it is not simply a religious sanctuary nor a place of higher learning, it is both. While rooted in the Presbyterian tradition, its 350-person student body comes from around the world, and they pull from more than 50 Christian denominations. Preparing for leadership as pastors, chaplains, nonprofit leaders, church planters and more, the students go on to serve in congregations as well as working in public policy, nonprofit work, higher education and counseling. All aiming to be in service to the church with a commitment to their faith.

“At Princeton Seminary, students have learned that it is not enough to feed those who are hungry. We must also interrogate why some zip codes have devolved into unsustainable food deserts. It is not enough to pray for the sick. We also need ministers of the gospel who understand social determinants of health like education, poverty, housing, and affiliation. And it is not enough to welcome the stranger. We must learn to identify culturally encoded bigotries and biases that render some people strange in the first place,” Seminary President Jonathan Lee Walton reminded this year’s graduating class.

To prepare them to do so, they learn and participate on the main campus of PTS, which sits just off downtown Princeton, covering 27-acres. Ten years ago, the Farminary campus opened, a 21-acre working farm off Mercer Road where students also weave agriculture and ecological justice into their theological study. Its location in the heart of Princeton is essential to what it has become, pulling from both the nearby scholarship and the vibrant local opportunities.

With 36-fulltime faculty, both the instructors and the students take advantage of working with those in the greater-Princeton area through religious and nonprofit initiatives, and at local congregations. The community therefore benefits from bringing them in, but PTS also welcomes nearby residents onto its campus’ as well. The Farminary will be celebrating its 10^th Anniversary with a weekend of speakers and events in late September, and all are invited to join. 1^st Thursdays at the Farm are also hosted at The Farminary every month, where the community is invited to hear from scholars, artists and activists over a 4-course meal. On PTS’ main campus, there are frequent lectures and conferences opened to the public.

So why not take a day or a night this summer to learn from, take part in or simply observe a religious experience different from your own? These religious sites nearby offer not only beauty and innovation, but they truly want to welcome others in.