2025 Elections: Everything You Need to Know to Vote Locally & Informed!

Perspectives Revisited

The Battle of Princeton, one of the fiercest battles of the American Revolution, took place on what today we know as Princeton Battlefield State Park, off of Mercer Street. We’ve written about it numerous times, most recently in What is it That People Love About Princeton? (February 2025). As Princeton and the world prepare for the 250^th anniversary of America next summer, historians, preservationists and others are hard at work to preserve and improve on the site of the turning point 1777 battle (only about 1/10^th of the core battlefield is currently accessible to the public). To do so, projects estimated at $3-5m are underway, funded through private/non-profit support as well as grants. In a presentation last week, attended by over 125 community members, it was revealed changes include renovating the bathrooms to be ADA compliant, restoring the historic Colonnade, resurfacing the roadways and parking lot and creating a new entrance and signage. New interactive exhibits, rehabilitating the battlefield and creating a new visitor and education center are also in the works. Additionally, a commemorative apple orchard, reminiscent of what the William Clarke Farm used to have, is being planned for the site.

Citing financial constraints in 2020, Rider University relocated Westminster Choir College from its Princeton campus to the Lawrence site. That may not have been enough. This April, the site was acquired through eminent domain by the Princeton municipal government. As Princeton decides uses for the campus, as mentioned in the article Summer 2025 is Full of Changes for Princeton Public Schools (September 2025), Rider University faces even more financial difficulties. In a letter to its community in late September, Rider University President John Loyack explained things are going to need to change in order for Rider to have a strong future, and asked for input from students, faculty and the community. Though it will be getting $13m from Princeton Theological Seminary in a settlement from the sale of Westminster Choir College property, that money is already allocated to cover loans borrowed from prior-year cash operating losses. Last week, President Loyack informed the Rider community that a restructuring plan is in the works, taking into consideration the many recommendations that have been offered. University leaders have accepted suggestions on improving the academic model, developing new partnerships, enhancing campus life, creating new revenue streams, becoming more operationally efficient and developing a more positive reputation in the community. The Board of Directors will now decide what specifically to focus on and create timelines to get there.