How long can a dog run off leash in Raritan Township this afternoon, and what does it need on its collar?
Before this fall, the township had one dog park, and it belonged to the county. TAPinto Flemington/Raritan reported that the off-leash area at the Hunterdon County Complex on Route 12 is owned and operated by the county rather than the township. Blackwell Park now has the township's first municipal dog park, roughly a 15-minute drive away. The two enclosures follow different rulebooks, so the answer to that opening question depends on which gate you walk through.
What Opened at Blackwell Park This Fall
The township marked the finished work at Blackwell Park with a ribbon-cutting in October. Over the past two years the park has gained new pickleball courts, the dog park, new playground equipment, a refurbished basketball court, better ADA access and walkways, and pavilion upgrades, according to the township's announcement. The park sits near Everitts Road and Lavada Lane.
Hunterdon County paid for a large share of it through its Municipal Park and Recreation Grant Program. The county gave $100,000 in 2024 for the playground and $70,000 in 2025 for the other upgrades. WRNJ Radio put the county's total at $170,000.
The dog park was the piece residents had been asking about longest. Before the opening, Mayor Bradford Perry told TAPinto that "we have seen a need for a township dog park for quite some time, and this project has actually been several years in the making." He noted that township rules require dogs to stay leashed everywhere else in the parks, and said the new space gives residents "a designated, safe and fun space where residents can let their dogs off leash to run, exercise and socialize."
Two Gates, Two Sets of Rules
The rules for Blackwell come from Ordinance 26-30, which the Township Committee adopted on September 15, 2026. You can read it in full on eCode360. The Route 12 area follows the county's Off-Leash Dog Area guide, last revised in March 2026. Some rules are the same at both sites, and some aren't.
| Blackwell Park, Raritan Township | County Off-Leash Dog Area, 314 State Highway 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | Dawn to dusk, daily | Dawn to dusk, daily |
| Time per visit | 45 minutes | Please limit to 30 minutes |
| Dogs per person | Two | Two |
| Tags | Valid license displayed | Flat-buckle collar with valid license and current vaccination tag |
| Who may enter | Handlers 16 and older; no children under 10; ages 10 to 15 with an adult 18 or older | No children under 10; ages 10 to 15 under close adult supervision; 16 and older on their own |
| Dogs not allowed | Under six months, not spayed or neutered, sick or aggressive | Under six months, not spayed or neutered |
| Food | No food of any kind, dog or human, and no glass | No rawhide or dog food products, and no human food or beverages |
The two rulebooks word the tag requirement differently. The county guide says the collar itself must show both the license and a current vaccination tag. The township ordinance requires every dog to display a valid license and requires dogs and handlers to comply with the regulations and licensing requirements of Chapter 188, the township's animal code.
Blackwell allows the longer visit. There, the ordinance sets 45 minutes per visit "to allow for use of the dog park by all." The county asks for 30 minutes and adds that there are no restrooms at the site.
At both parks, dogs have to be leashed going in and coming out, and every handler has to keep a leash on hand inside the fence. This is general information, not legal advice. The ordinance and the county guide are the authority, and the rules posted at each gate govern.
In Late Fall, Dusk Sets the Schedule
Both parks are open dawn to dusk, which in summer leaves plenty of room for an after-work visit. In mid-November it doesn't. Dark comes before many commutes end, so a weekday off-leash visit at either park now falls in the morning or on a lunch break, and weekends give you the most daylight.
The visit limits make the timing tighter. With 45 minutes at Blackwell and 30 at Route 12, you can't stretch a visit into the last light. The county guide also says dogs that show unacceptable behavior toward people or other dogs must be leashed and removed right away. The township ordinance has the same rule for aggressive or hostile behavior.
The rest of Blackwell keeps a similar schedule. The township's Fall 2026 newsletter says the three pickleball courts "have already gained immense popularity with the public." Under the township's reservation rules, pickup pickleball, pickup basketball and ordinary dog park visits don't need a reservation, as long as the court isn't already booked. The last seasonal reservation window in the code, fall, runs from September 1 to Sunday, November 15.
The Small Dog Area Can Be Booked
One feature at Blackwell has no counterpart on Route 12. Under the amended reservation code, the small dog area can be rented for up to two hours. On the nonprofit fee schedule, the rental costs $15 for residents and $30 for nonresidents. On the for-profit schedule, it costs $30 for residents and $60 for nonresidents.
Dog trainers, professional or amateur, can't run sessions inside the dog park unless they have a township facility use permit and pay the fee. Rentals and trainer permits both start with a Facility Use Form submitted to the Raritan Township Department of Public Works.
Beyond the Fences, Dogs Stay on Leash
Everywhere else in the township's parks, dogs must stay leashed, and owners must pick up after them. The amount of land that covers grew this year. The Fall 2026 newsletter reports more than 100 acres of newly preserved open space in 2026. That total includes three township acquisitions adding up to over 36 acres and a 64-acre county acquisition the township helped arrange.
The new land includes additions to the Dayton Road Preserve along the Walnut Brook Greenway and to the Plum Brook Preserve, plus a new Wickecheoke Creek Preserve on Oak Grove Road. The township's preserved land now totals nearly 5,200 acres, more than 21 percent of Raritan Township.
Harry Quinn, a longtime member of the Open Space Committee, described one result in the township's Fall 2026 newsletter: "I remember when I used to joke about the day when one would be able to hike, on public land, from Dvoor Farm to Cherryville. Now you can, with just a few steps along the roadside near the top." Trail maps and park amenities are on the township's parks page.
Dog Events on the Calendar Through Mid-December
Animal Alliance has a full schedule of local dog events between now and the holidays. Its events calendar lists the following. Dates can change, so check the calendar before you go.
- Saturday, November 14: Puppy Yoga at Riding With Heart in Pittstown, benefiting Animal Alliance.
- Sunday, November 15: Puppy Pilates at Elevate Dance Academy, 59 Reading Road, Flemington.
- Sunday, November 22: Meet adoptable dogs at the Hunterdon Community Farmers Market at Dvoor Farm.
- Saturday, November 28: Adoptable dogs at Lowe's in Flemington.
- Sunday, November 29: Adoptable dogs at Tractor Supply Co. in Ringoes.
- Saturday, December 5: Adoptable dogs and in-house cats at PetSmart Flemington.
- Sunday, December 13: Puppy Pilates returns to Elevate Dance Academy.
November 29 is also the night of the township's annual Holiday Lights Celebration, at 5 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 1 Municipal Drive. The evening includes the tree and menorah lighting, refreshments, and a visit from Santa. The event starts after dusk, so both off-leash parks will already be closed. A late-morning visit to Blackwell and the Ringoes adoption event can both fit on the calendar before the lights come on.
For many households, the daily dog walk is a real part of how a home works. That's especially true for downsizers trading a big yard for something smaller, and for families helping a parent who doesn't want to give up a longtime companion. If you're weighing a move in Hunterdon County and want to talk through how walks, parks and daily routines fit into it, Christine Cura is glad to help you think it through on your own timeline. Let's Connect.
