Those pushing for a horse park on the West Side of Summit County have formed a non-profit organization to help advance the proposal.
With hundreds of horses living in the community there is no place for holding large equestrian events, supporters said.
A not-for-profit equestrian facility could include trails designed exclusively for horseback riders. The mission of the Park City Equine Partnership is to preserve open space for trails and parks.
“Park City is the ideal location for equestrian recreation open space, trails and facilities due to its rich western equine history, predominantly agricultural and rural setting,” Summit County Councilwoman Sally Elliott said in a prepared statement.
Elliott is a member of the advisory council for the Park City Equine partnership.
In January, Snyderville Basin resident Dawn Vibert Bowes, chairwoman and land conservation director for the Park City Equine Partnership, made a presentation about horse parks to the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District administrative control board.
Horse parks are usually developed on between 100 and 300 acres of land, according to Vibert Bowes.
“There is little question that the need exists and that our efforts will enhance the image of Park City,” Vibert Bowes said in a prepared statement.
Group members will work with land conservation trusts and recreation organizations to connect equestrian communities to the public trail system.
“With the increase in high density residential and commercial development in Park City, the need for trail easements and open space to recreate is important to thriving equestrian neighborhoods,” Utah Open Lands Executive Director Wendy Fisher said in a prepared statement.
There is not a public equestrian facility on the West Side of Summit County, according to Eileen Galoostian, marketing and communications director for the Park City Equine Partnership.
“Our long-term plan would be to build a facility that would allow less expensive access to this We want everyone to be able to enjoy it and not see it as an elitist sport,” Galoostian said in a telephone interview Thursday. “Private facilities are cost prohibitive and children or adults who may be interested in horseback riding just don’t see it as viable. We would like to work out a way where it would make it viable for people to do it at a less expensive cost.”
The owners of some private equestrian facilities are supporting the proposal.
“We are fortunate to live in the wide open spaces of the mountain West where horses are as much a part of our history as mining and cowboys,” according to Mark J. Fischer, managing partner of High Star Ranch, an equestrian community in Kamas. “Open access to trails is an important piece of the equestrian community in and around Park City, and High Start Ranch supports the mission of the Park City Equine Partnership to preserve open land access for public equestrian trails.”
Galoostian explained that the public horse facilities could be multiuse.
“Our view is to be inclusive and not just focus on the horses. For example, we would build a gallop track that could be used by horses in the summer. But in the winter that could be a Nordic cross-country track,” Galoostian said. “A lot of money has been spent in different areas to support different sports, but they don’t accommodate the equestrian needs.”
Rena Jordan, director of the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District, said taxpayers would need to decide whether they wish to fund equestrian facilities.
“The appetite may or may not be here,” Jordan said.
To raise funds for the Park City Equine Partnership there will be a barn concert in Silver Creek March 5 at 6 p.m. The event is scheduled to occur at Chaparral Ranch, 8589 Meadow View Road.