A public hearing will be held Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. in Rahway City Hall on a proposed change of use — a dog park — at the Wheatana section of Rahway River Park.

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About 0.41 acres of Wheatena Park along Elizabeth Avenue and West Grand Avenue would be converted into a dog park. City Council was presented with a concept in May for an 18,000-square-foot park with two separated areas: 11,000 square feet for large dogs (about a quarter acre) and 7,000 square feet for small dogs. In August, the governing body awarded an engineering contract of nearly $60,000 for the project.

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

Public comment on the proposed change will be accepted until Nov. 20. On or after Nov. 21, the county “may take formal action to approved the proposed change in purpose or use.” Written comments also can be directed to Emile T. Ngo, Second Deputy County Counsel, at engo@ucnj.org or mailed to the Office of the County Counsel, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, N.J., 07207.

All information submitted by the County of Union regarding the proposed change in use is available for public inspection with the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, N.J., 07207. The information is also available on the county’s website at https://ucnj.org/public-notices/.

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