No, You Can't Walk Your Dog Near Harry Wright Lake: Manchester PD

MANCHESTER, NJ — Increasing conflicts and complaints about people and their dogs at Harry Wright Lake Park have prompted Manchester Township police to issue a reminder about where dogs are permitted around the lake.

Under Manchester Township's Parks and Recreation ordinance, pets are not allowed "in picnic, bathing or swimming areas or in other areas indicated by signage," which was approved in 2014.

That includes the area around the swimming beaches at Harry Wright Lake, the police department said.

"After receiving numerous citizen complaints regarding pets at Harry Wright Lake, we wanted to let everyone know about our township ordinance, which prohibits pets from the picnic, bathing, swimming areas, and other areas indicated by the posted signage," police said in a post on the department's Facebook page Tuesday.

The ordinance that says pets are not allowed in areas also notes that people who bring their dogs or other pets to the park must have them on a leash no more than 6 feet long and must clean up their pets' poop.

The full text of the ordinance is as follows:

288-13 Domestic animals.
A. Dogs and cats must be kept on a leash not exceeding six feet in length. No domestic animal shall be permitted to run at large within any Township park or public lands, either with or without a keeper, except in those areas designated for that purpose by the Mayor or his designee and posted by the Director of Public Works. Pets shall not be allowed in picnic, bathing or swimming areas or in other areas indicated by signage.[Amended 4-14-2014 by Ord. No. 14-007]

B. No person shall ride, drive, lead, or keep a saddle horse or other animal within a Township park or public lands, except on such roads, trails, or other areas as designated for that purpose by the Mayor or his designee and posted by the Director of Public Works. No horse or other animal shall be hitched to any tree or shrub in a manner that may cause damage.[Amended 4-14-2014 by Ord. No. 14-007]

C. Pet owners/keepers must immediately remove any feces produced by their animals from any Township park or public land.

"After speaking with the Manchester Township Parks and Recreation Department, we have mapped out where pets are prohibited at the Harry Wright Lake for your convenience and to avoid any confusion. Thank you!" the police department post said.

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