Organization

Horse park still possible in county

Saturday, August 30, 2008
By Steven Hepker
shepker@citpat.com—768-4923

Jackson County remains in the running for a 1,000-acre horse park that would feature trails, an exhibition facility, campgrounds and stalls for 2,000 horses.

``We are in the race for the roses for the horse park,’’ Scott Fleming, president and CEO for The Enterprise Group, said Friday.

Officials said a potential site for a horse park in Jackson County would be Springport Township. Marshall, Albion and Grand Rapids are among other top contenders, officials said.

Elected officials and representatives of farm, economic development and community groups will hear a report Wednesday on a feasibility study. The public is invited to the meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Jackson County Commission chambers in the County Tower Building, 120 W. Michigan Ave.

``This is still in the study stage, but we want to inform the community and build some momentum and enthusiasm,’’ Fleming said.

The Michigan Equine Partnership has studied the feasibility of building a horse park capable of generating a regional market and attracting national and state horse shows.

The group received a $60,000 study grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in early 2007.

Larry Julian, a spokesman for the Michigan Equine Partnership, said the study has determined a horse park is feasible in southern Michigan.

``The part that is not done is how if would be financed, whether it would be private or a state partnership, and where it would be,’’ he said Friday.

Fleming and Julian said the horse park would be modeled after the Kentucky Horse Park, which is a major tourist spot and horse show venue.

Fleming said a horse park would hire up to 20 full-time employees and generate $6.4 million in a typical three-day horse show.

Washtenaw, Oakland and Jackson counties have the top horse populations in Michigan.

Julian said leaders in Jackson and at Albion College, which has an equestrian center, have been especially enthusiastic about the prospect of hosting a horse park.