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What began as a dream of the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) in 1999 is now becoming closer to reality…The Maryland Horse Park. On the recommendation of the MHIB in May 2005, the Maryland Department of Agriculture with the support of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development asked the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of the Maryland Horse Park. By June 2005, the MSA had organized a project team to conduct the feasibility study, which includes a market analysis, a statewide site selection process, master planning, development cost estimating, and economic analysis. In order to ensure the development of a successful world-class facility, the project team includes active equestrians from the Maryland horse industry, representatives from the MHIB and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, and equestrian architects with vast experience planning and designing equestrian facilities. In October 2005, the project team, through a rigorous process, selected the scenic and historic U.S. Naval Academy Dairy Farm site in Gambrills, Maryland between Baltimore and Annapolis and just minutes from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI). The site includes 860 acres of gently rolling hills and is in the middle of the largest horse population in Maryland. The site is mere minutes from major highways and is strategically located to serve the rapidly growing equine industry along the eastern seaboard and the Midwest. Additionally, its proximity to almost 9,000 hotel rooms, restaurants, major tourist attractions, and other visitor support services will increase its potential for significant economic impact to the State and areas surrounding the Horse Park. Among the last of the open spaces in the area, the Naval Academy Dairy Farm is ideal for the Maryland Horse Park. The master plan carefully integrates the new equestrian facilities with the natural environment and historic elements of the Dairy Farm, while preserving vast tracts of open space for outdoor equestrian events, recreation and agriculture. Preservation of the rural environment experience is a key element in developing the Horse Park as an internationally-acclaimed venue for equestrian sports, recreation and educational functions. The planners have been very sensitive to the unique characteristics of the natural environment, as well as the surrounding community. Careful landscape planning, including the enhancement of perimeter buffers and increased canopy cover, will help shield the Horse Park from surrounding development and will also mitigate sound and light pollution, preserving the rural feel of the site. Storm water management initiatives include minimizing non-permeable roads and parking areas and collecting building and site runoff for irrigation, minimizing the use of potable water park operations. The history of the site is also very important. The historic Dairy Farm structures, the Historic Zone, will be restored and enhanced to fulfill the education and heritage missions of the Horse Park. The Historic Zone will include a visitor’s center and gallery featuring historic artifacts and information about the former dairy farm operations; an education center; restored cottages for education center guests; and the existing dairy barns will be restored to house a commissary, stabling for the Park’s mounted patrol, 4-H activities, trail riding, pony ride and carriage horses, and maintenance operations. These elements will be operated as working exhibits to provide the public with an inside look at a real-life equestrian operation. The Equestrian Zone includes the sport and recreation facilities required to support the vast spectrum of equine interests in Maryland and the region. The new facilities will be among the finest in the world, with careful consideration given to efficient event operations, safety, security, and the health and wellbeing of the animals, exhibitors and spectators. A climate-controlled indoor equestrian center and sales ring, with a covered practice area, and heated and interconnected stables will allow year-round operation of the Horse Park regardless of weather conditions. Additionally, the facilities have been planned and programmed to ensure compatibility with both FEI and Olympic level requirements for equestrian venues, making the Horse Park a premier location for major national and international events. The primary Equestrian Zone facilities include: - Visitors Center and Equestrian/Agriculture Museum;
- Indoor climate-controlled equestrian show ring with 2,500 seats (fixed), a sales ring, restaurant and lounge overlooking the rings, and adjacent indoor warm-up arena;
- Outdoor equestrian show ring with seating and adjacent warm-up ring;
- Seven additional outdoor show and practice rings with a variety of footings including grass;
- Grass Grand Prix field;
- Stabling for 840 horses with toilets, showers, walking rings, farrier and veterinary procedure areas;
- 3+ mile cross-country course and combined driving venue with water courses, timber routes and multiple spectator overlooks; v1-mile turf steeplechase course with 1,500-seat grandstand;
- ¾-mile fibre-sand training track to support horse sale functions; and
- Extensive outdoor public space and attractions to support the Horse Park mission, including carriage station, sculpture garden, equestrian-related retail vendor areas, etc.
- Trail riding available for public use.
The architecture of the new facilities will capitalize on the rural environment experience, utilizing natural materials such as native stone, wood, and slate. It is also anticipated that these facilities will be designed according to U.S. Green Building Council LEED guidelines for sustainable design. “It is the intent of the planning team to create not only the best equestrian facility in North America, but also a model for the world regarding environmental concerns, energy conservation, and historic preservation,” stated Todd Gralla of the international equestrian architecture firm gh2 Gralla Architects. - In conclusion, we know of no other government initiative with such a wide range of benefits for our state and its citizens. The Maryland Horse Park:
- Is a model for environmental sensitivity and land conservation in an increasingly urban region.
- Creates a permanent open space with numerous recreational options for spectators, participants and the community.
- Provides facilities for a growing aspect of our agricultural industry and provides an enhanced market for numerous support services including farming.
- Provides facilities for activities that serve the community, as well as attract visitors and commercial enterprises from beyond Maryland’s borders.
- Establishes an equestrian venue of world-class scope and quality.
- Offers potential for further economic development in conjunction with a lucrative equine import-export port of entry at BWI-Thurgood Marshall Airport.
- Will spur additional recreation facilities via adjacent trails along the historic railroad right-of-way that once connected Baltimore, Washington and Annapolis.
- Will be an educational facility with museums, historic exhibits and working agricultural operations reflecting our rural heritage.
The Maryland Horse Park is not only an inspired vision, it is an excellent investment by and for the citizens of the great State of Maryland. According to David O’Connor, President of the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc., “The site upon which you have chosen to build a world-class facility is ideal to meet the needs of our horse sports” and “This project has the potential to be a tremendous asset to the economy of Maryland as well as to the local economies in the area.” www.mdstad.com
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