A half-million-dollar dog park in the works since last year is planned for Wheatena Park, specifically along Elizabeth Avenue across from Meridia Brownstones.

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City Council approved a resolution (AR-112-24) on Monday night granting authorization to negotiate an agreement with Union County for the development, maintenance and liability by the city” for the dog park. “Union County has preliminarily granted authorization to the city confirming their willingness to enter into an agreement with Union County whereby all costs associated with construction, permitting, maintenance and liability for the dog park will remain the responsibility of the city,” according to the resolution.

In a brief presentation to City Council, City Engineer Daniel Lee presented a conceptual plan for the dog park. The 18,000-square-foot park (~0.41 acres) would have two separated areas: one for large dogs of about 11,000 square feet (~0.25 acres) up to the corner of West Grand Avenue, and another for small dogs, about 7,000 square feet (~0.16 acres), up to a neighboring commercial property along Elizabeth Avenue.

Assuming positive pre-applications meetings with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Lee said a formal agreement with Union County for design and engineering could be formalized and the park could open by late spring or early summer next year.

NJ Spotlight News reported in August on assorted “last-minute add-ons” to the state budget, among them $500,000 for the dog park. The 2023 municipal budget, approved last June, also included a $50,000 appropriation for a dog park.

There were no questions from City Council members following the three-minute presentation by Lee but two members of the Environmental Commission raised concerns.

Jeff Robinson of Stanton Street, chairman of the Environmental Commission, said a dog park would be a great amenity but the commission had four issues with the concept:

• The Wheatena Corporation in 1922 donated the land for Wheatena Park, which was the first park in the then-Union County Park Commission. “Making any drastic changes to this historical piece of land, we just don’t think that’s good.”
• The East Coast Greenway runs through Wheatena Park, which could “spoil the serenity and nice trails that go through there.”
• Not all owners will pick up after their dogs and dog waste left behind will be washed into the nearby Rahway River when it rains.
• Parking is a contentious issue in the neighborhood and while some dog owners will walk to the park, others will drive, and and are there plans for creating a parking lot?

“We just don’t think a dog park will work in that area,” Robinson said. “A lot of work has gone into this already,” he said but the Environmental Commission recommends taking another look, perhaps tabling it until their questions are answered.

Another Environmental Commission member, Erick Hausker of Ludlow Street, congratulated the city on selecting an area north of West Grand Avenue for the park rather than the southern end, which is “beautiful and well preserved,” But he also shared other locations identified by the commission for a dog park:

• Hamilton Street near Hamilton Stage
• Tully Field
• Brennan Field because the western side has room and parking
• Stein Field has approximately the same size proposed at Wheatena and plenty of street parking
• The northwest quadrant of Wheatena along Jackson Street has another large open field, with street parking.

Hausker said he “loves the idea of dogs frolicking without a lease” but stands by the same objections raised by Robinson.

In response, Mayor Raymond Giacobbe, Jr. said some of the municipal parks mentioned don’t have the size for a dog park but welcomed the commission’s feedback, suggesting that the city engineer will reach out. Teaming up with Union County, which also put funds toward the cost of the park, also allows for a “grander” dog park with more amenities, he said.

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