Rahway Cuts Ribbon on City’s First Dog Park at Wheatena Park
Wheatena Dog Park gives Rahway residents and their pets a fenced, dedicated space just outside downtown, years after the idea was first floated.
State, county, and local leaders in Rahway held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the city’s first dog park, Wheatena Park. (The Central Jerseyan)
Editor’s note: The Central Jerseyan is free to read and supported by advertising. If you value this kind of local reporting and want to help sustain it, you can become a citizen supporter on Patreon. Your contribution helps fund continued coverage of local government, schools, and community issues.
Chris Howell | July 29, 2026
State, county, and local leaders gathered in Rahway on Tuesday to celebrate the grand opening of the city’s first dog park.
For Jill Valdez, the moment was worth the wait. Valdez lives in an apartment off Main Street with her two-year-old beagle, Ramsay, and said the lack of outdoor space made getting a nearby dog park feel overdue.
“We’ve been waiting a really long time for the dog park to open,” Valdez said. “Living in an apartment, no grass, no backyard. So this was really exciting.”
The new Wheatena Dog Park sits at the corner of West Grand and Elizabeth avenues, on land owned by Union County. The city secured a use and maintenance agreement with the county to build and operate the park, which includes separate fenced areas for large and small dogs, secure double-gated entryways, shaded seating, hydration stations, and a new walkway connecting the park to the street.
DON’T LET AN ALGORITHM DECIDE YOUR NEWS
Sign up for The Central Jerseyan Newsletter for independent local news and events every weekend.
Construction was awarded to Picerno-Giordano Construction of Kenilworth for $435,150, funded through a $500,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. The grant covered engineering, permitting, and construction without using local taxpayer funds.
Mayor Raymond Giacobbe Jr. thanked the City Council, including Councilwoman Joanna Miles, Councilwoman Darlene Eastman, Councilwoman Karla Timmons, and Councilman Joseph D. Gibilisco, along with residents whose support helped move the project forward.
“Your support, your ideas, and your continued belief in our city are what inspire us to keep moving forward and finding new ways to make Rahway an even better place to live, work, and raise a family,” Giacobbe said. “So to all the residents, and of course, to all the dogs, welcome to your new dog park.”
Giacobbe credited New Jersey Senate President Nick Scutari, who grew up in nearby Linden, with helping secure state investment in Rahway’s parks system over the years.
“I cannot ask for a better partner,” Giacobbe said.
Ramsay, a beagle, enjoying his time at Wheatena Park in Rahway during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new dog park, the city’s first. (The Central Jerseyan)
Scutari, who represents the 22nd legislative district, said he used to spend time in the wooded area that eventually became Wheatena Park. He praised Giacobbe’s focus on expanding the city’s park system since taking office.
“That’s one of the biggest, most tangible things that we can do for our community,” Scutari said. He added that state investment in local parks across Union County has grown since he became Senate President. “It’s a partnership.”
Scutari also recognized former Rahway Mayor and current Assemblyman Jim Kennedy for laying the groundwork for the city’s redevelopment decades ago. Giacobbe echoed that sentiment, crediting Kennedy with building the foundation the city continues to expand on today.
Union County Commissioner Chairman Joseph C. Bodek called the park a model for how county and municipal governments can work together.
“This project is a great example of how county and municipal partnerships can transform public land into something residents can enjoy every day,” Bodek said, adding that it creates “another welcoming space where neighbors can meet, spend time outdoors, and build a stronger sense of community.”
Giacobbe also credited former Union County Commissioner Sergio Granados with first pitching the idea of a Rahway dog park years ago, and recognized Union County Parks Department Director Victoria Durbin Drake for her role in bringing the project to completion.
Giacobbe closed the ceremony by thanking his wife, Laura, and the couple’s two dogs, Colby and Gia, before cutting the ribbon alongside city and county officials.
Editor’s note: The Central Jerseyan is free to read and supported by advertising. If you value this kind of local reporting and want to help sustain it, you can become a citizen supporter on Patreon. Your contribution helps fund continued coverage of local government, schools, and community issues.