Arts Council to Run Logo Contest for the United Princeton

The new logo for the consolidated Princeton will not be designed by a fancy graphics firm that charges thousands of dollars. Instead, officials thought it would be fun to hold a community contest for the new design.

Princeton residents of all ages will be able to submit a logo design for the competition. Contest details are still being worked out, but the Arts Council of Princeton will manage the competition, and Arts Council members who are not Princeton residents will also be able to enter the contest.

The prize? $500 and place in Princeton consolidation history. Officials estimate that the total cost for the logo change will be $2,500.

Several issue still need to be worked out, for example who will judge the contest. Officials have also raised issues about how Princeton will be referred to. The town of Princeton? Princeton Borough? Or just Princeton?

Last November, voters approved a merger of the Borough and Township into one municipality that would be called Princeton. But under state law, the official name of a town must reflect the form of government in New Jersey. Borough officials said they have asked the state Department of Community Affairs whether Princeton officially needs to be called a Borough, but have not received a response. Originally officials suggested the new logo should say” Town of Princeton.” Township Lawyer Ed Schmierer pointed out that legal documents filed with the IRS list the new municipality as “Princeton.”

Some officials have suggested that the logo say “Princeton, NJ” so that the new municipal name is not confused with that other Princeton in town.