As part of recent sustainability efforts, PPS will make changes to two basins near Princeton High School, the EcoLab, located between the Performing Arts Center and the staff parking lot, and a new stormwater basin near the tennis courts.

In 2006, the PHS EcoLab was naturalized with native species to create a wetland habitat laboratory for students. It was initially developed with the help of local experts and Environmental Science teacher Tim Anderson. More recently, the EcoLab has been the domain of PHS students in Environmental Science classes with James Smirk as well as students participating in the Science Research Project Program. 

During the pandemic, trees in the basin, which were not part of the original plan, grew to be very large.  PPS hired Steward Green, a New Jersey company that provides ecosystem services consulting and project management, to help remove the trees. The next phase of the project will be to repair masonry and and walls around the basin

In the spring, the revitalization of native plants will begin. Prior to naturalization, the district will check the process for water filtration and also check to make sure that erosion and sedimentation are not significant issues. 

In addition, PPS recently created a new stormwater basin near the tennis courts. In coming months the quarter-acre basin will transition from lawn to native meadow. As part of a solarization process designed to eradicate weeds, black plastic sheeting covers the area. Once the process is complete, the basin will be seeded with native plant species. When complete, the basin is intended to manage stormwater and provide habitat for pollinators.

Review the proposal by Steward Green here.