Howard Explores Locations for State Horse Park

By Susan Kim, STAFF WRITER

Plans for a Maryland Horse Park haven't exactly been moving at a gallop. The proposal has been underway for nearly a decade, but Howard County trotted another step forward in mid-May by naming five potential locations for the park.
A Howard County Horse Park Task Force named the following five sites for consideration: a 925-acre property owned by the University of Maryland Central Research & Education Center in Clarksville; 900 privately-owned acres in Ellicott City; Benson Branch Park, a 333-acre undeveloped property also in Ellicott City; the Howard County Fairgrounds and nearby West Friendship Park (430 acres); and the 85-acre Belmont estate, located next to Patapsco State Park.
The Maryland Horse Park would include a visitor center, museum, indoor showroom and at least 850 stables. It would host state, regional and national horse shows.
Mike Erskine, an equine veterinarian who chaired the Howard County Horse Park Task Force, said other counties are likely to put forth their potential locations to the state as well. Harford County officials have publicly expressed interest in locating the horse park in that county, but a specific location is not yet on the table for consideration.
"We recommended to the County Council that they continue the process of exploring the location of the Maryland Horse Park in Howard County," said Erskine. "We felt the next step would be to form or create an official committee or entity that has authority to study or visit the sites we identified to see what can be done as far as getting agreements for the use of the property."

Boost for Ag Industry
Locating the horse park in Howard County would not only boost the local horse industry but would help other facets of the local agriculture market as well, said Howie Feaga, president of the Howard County Farm Bureau.
"I see the potential for a horse park that hosts sheep and goat festivals, as well as other events that reflect the increasingly diverse agriculture industry in Howard County," he said. "Plus, the state would help foot the bill."
Feaga voiced his hope that the County Council will move forward on the task force's recommendations. "The results could be an uplifting thing for Howard County and for the agriculture industry as well," he said.

Tourism - and Traffic?
State officials have long considered the horse park as a venue that would centralize and promote the state's equine industry, and other proponents of the proposed facility say it would boost the local tax base and attract tourists as well.
A horse park would become a multi-use facility that could enhance the local community in many ways, said Kathy Zimmerman, an agricultural economic development specialist with the Howard County Economic Development Authority.
"For example, I didn't realize there was such a problem finding venues for high school graduations in the county," she said, adding that the horse park could provide a suitable place to hold large events.
"Soccer, lacrosse and polo fields could also be located there," she added. "The park would be accessible to local people who want to ride. It would also provide a park-like setting for people who simply want to get some exercise and enjoyment, and it would provide much-needed space for 4H clubs to work."
So far, opposition to the horse park has been voiced by residents concerned about traffic and disruption from large events held at the park, said Erskine. "The oppositions presented at public forums were very reasonable and understandable. I totally empathize with the concerns about the ability of roads to handle increased traffic."
But horse shows aren't typically huge spectator events, he added. "The competitors are paying a premium to compete, and so you can have a successful horse show without a lot of spectators."