Plans for a proposed dog park in the Wheatena section of Rahway River Park took a step forward this week.
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City Council at its meeting last night awarded a $58,500 contract (AR-185-24) to Najarian Associates for professional engineering services. The resolution passed 6-0 with no comments or questions from City Council. Three council members absent: 3rd Ward Councilwoman Vannie Parson, 5th Ward Councilwoman Dani Newbury, and Councilman At-large Jeff Brooks.
The governing body approved a resolution in May to negotiate an agreement with Union County for the development of a dog park at Wheatena, which is part of the county park system.
The Eatontown-based engineering firm, which also was recently awarded a $30,350 contract to study potential flood control measures for Orchard Creek, submitted a proposal July 30 to “design, prepare, and administer bid documents and perform construction administration services for the Wheatena Dog Park Improvement project.”
Najarian’s proposal includes 150 hours of on-site inspection and estimates a six-week construction timeline, with the $58,500 contract estimated to break down as follows:
- Construction administration – $24,000
- Base map / conceptual design – $18,000
- Final design / bid documents – $7,000
- Permits – $7,000
- Bidding and award – $2,500
Putnam Park will include a small dog park area, a large dog park area, paths, fencing, and landscaping, based on a May 23 concept plan. The concept plan envisions an 18,000-square-foot park with two separated areas – one for small dogs, another for large dogs – along the Elizabeth Avenue side of the park up to West Grand Avenue.
During Monday night’s City Council meeting, Jeffrey Robinson of Stanton Street, who is chairman of the Environmental Commission, sought clarification on several aspects of the engineering contract:
- Whether the city had to apply to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for a permit to locate the dog park at Wheatena;
- What the pre-application meeting with DEP cited in the proposal was all about; and,
- How dog waste being washed into the river will be prevented or minimized, which was not addressed in the firm’s proposal.
“I think that’s something that you as City Council members need to know and should know before you vote on this tonight,” Robinson said.
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