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News from the Monterey Horse Park
December 2010
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Greetings!
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Monterey Horse Park, I am writing to wish you all the happiest of holidays and a healthy, happy and peaceful New Year. I am also writing to provide good news about new developments for the Park.
We want to thank you all for the support you have shown the Monterey Horse Park over the past years. We are now working with the County of Monterey and our new partner Monterey Downs to make changes to our original vision. We believe this new vision will provide the impetus needed to ensure the long term viability of the Park.
The article below summarizes our new direction in detail and outlines next steps for the project. A copy of the "new vision" book will soon be posted on our website.
Looking forward to 2011, we plan to host several events on the property including site tours, summer equestrian events and a repeat of the successful Desert Gold Endurance Ride in November. In addition, as we move into the detailed submissions process with the County of Monterey for permits and approvals, we will be holding fundraising events that will be announced in the January edition of this newsletter.
Our Founding Friends program will gear up next year. Our board has extended your membership in Founding Friends through 2011. Of course contributions are always welcome during this time. In the coming months we will expand our Founding Friends program, demonstrating to elected officials, equine advocates, open space supporters and potential contributors the broad and growing base of support for the Horse Park.
You can help by telling your friends and colleagues about Founding Friends. Sport a new MHP cap (see below) or give one as a gift. And we're on Facebook! Please "Like" us there so we can share tips, news, and special offers about the Monterey Horse Park. Just click HERE, and click the "Like" button!
With continued thanks and appreciation for your support and belief in our vision. As always, we welcome your suggestions and comments. Happy Holidays!
Anne Warner Cribbs
Executive Director
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Our New Vision for the Monterey Horse Park
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Partnership with Monterey Downs, LLC
In 2005, the Monterey Horse Park entered into an Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement with the County to develop approximately 390 acres at former Fort Ord as a multi-discipline equestrian park. Our Horse Park was designed as a year-round facility for a variety of shows including dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, cutting, para-equestrian, show jumping, vaulting, breed shows, pony club and other events. To further its charitable purposes and objectives, the Park would promote competition in equestrian sports and support and develop amateur athletes in these competitions. Monterey Horse Park was incorporated as a nonprofit public benefit corporation in May 2001 as a result of a need for an equestrian venue to become part of the Bay Area's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Over several years, we worked with the County on the entitlement process for the Horse Park, but in the end, the project's economic viability was difficult to guarantee, and the entitlement process was not completed before expiration of the 2005 Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement earlier this year. In addition, the cleanup of Army ordinance at the Horse Park site was delayed with the result that we could not have access to the site in time to complete the entitlement process by this year's deadline.
However, knowing the Horse Park is the right project for this area, our Board of Directors has continued the quest to build the Horse Park. In this regard, we were introduced to Monterey Downs, LLC and we have since come together to ensure the Monterey Horse Park will not only be built, but also will remain economically viable.
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The New Monterey Horse Park Plan
The original plan for the Monterey Horse Park has been revised to include compatible land uses that will ensure the financial viability of the Horse Park. The Horse Park itself has been condensed, but still includes all the features of the original plan. (We will work with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to utilize adjacent BLM land for eventing and driving courses to the extent necessary.) Approximately six private yards, of about two - three acres each, will also be available for lease or purchase. These yards will bring in revenue to build necessary infrastructure and allow families to live within the Horse Park. Additionally, a thoroughbred training facility, mixed use village known as Country Walk, and a variety of housing options have all been added to the new plan. Total area for the Monterey Downs and Horse Park is approximately 548 acres.
Elements within the Monterey Downs and Horse Park
The mission of the Monterey Downs and Horse Park is to balance nature with everyday living. The project has been designed to complement the surrounding communities and public facilities with the opportunities provided by an equestrian park expected to achieve international stature. Blended with the Horse Park are compatible land uses designed to provide new jobs, recreational activities, tourism, workforce, student and faculty housing, expanded higher education and a mixed-use village with retail/ commercial, restaurants and hospitality venues. Together, these elements will create a unique and vital park on our world-renowned Peninsula.
Mission The mission of the Monterey Horse Park is to preserve land for equestrian activities and public recreation; to provide venues for local, national and international competition, schooling and training; and to ensure that this extraordinary land in this unique setting will be enjoyed by future generations. Working together with Monterey Downs, LLC, we believe the Monterey Downs and Horse Park balances nature with everyday living and will become the model for equestrian communities. Please visit our website for additional insight into our vision for this exciting project. In the coming weeks, we will post the Monterey Downs Vision Book, with narrative about the complete project. |
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| Calendar 2011
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March 19 10:30 - 12:30: Tour of MHP for Founding Friends with picnic lunch following
April 27 - May 1 MHP team attends Rolex 3-Day Event at Kentucky Horse Park
May 21 10:30 - 12:30: Tour of MHP for Founding Friends with picnic lunch following
May 21 MHP Founding Friends Wines and Taste of Monterey County
July 16 10:30 - 12:30: Tour of MHP for Founding Friends with picnic lunch following
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Event Report
2010 Desert Gold Multi-Day Endurance Ride a Big Success
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Working again with officials at FORA, the County of Monterey and the Army, the Monterey Horse Park helped organize the popular Desert Gold Multi-Day (3 days) Endurance Ride on November 26, 27 and 28. Organizer Scott Sansom was delighted with the turnout. Along with the normal AERC event, Scott had an FEI event as well. More than 257 riders participated, the weather was perfect (at least Friday and Sunday were perfect - Saturday was wet and cold) and the riders, from as far away as Iowa, Texas, Utah and Virginia, enjoyed the land, the ride and the event. Scott looks forward to the ride in November 2012 when, depending on the pace of the Ft. Ord clean-up, the ride may start on Horse Park land, providing another wonderful opportunity for endurance riders to enjoy the BLM lands and have a glimpse of what the Park can become and provide for all kinds of equestrian disciplines and riders. We congratulate Scott and all the riders on a job well done, once again, and thank him for allowing the Monterey Horse Park to take part. And with special thanks to Monterey County and FORA officials for their support!
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| Volunteers Needed for Community Outreach
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The Monterey Horse Park continues to build a team of enthusiastic volunteers to attend area horse shows and competitions to spread the word about the Park, the clean-up timetable and future plans. We will provide the training, hats, printed material and maps at the events listed in the Calendar 2011 above. For more information or to sign-up, please contact Anne Cribbs, Executive Director.
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Join the Founding Friends of the Monterey Horse Park. It's Easy!
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All current Founding Friends memberships will be extended through 2011. However, during this time, we still need and will gratefully accept contributions to support our planning expenses (called our "keep the lights on budget") and ask you to share our mission with friends and colleagues. To join Founding Friends, please go to www.montereyhorsepark.org and click on the Founding Friends page. You may register and contribute online through our contributions program, Network for Good, or print out the application and return it and your gift to the address listed on the application.
The next tour of the Horse Park site for Founding Friends will take place on Saturday, March 19 at 10:30 am with lunch following. Founding Friends will receive an invitation by email around February 15, 2011.
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| Get Your Monterey Horse Park Hats!
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Great-looking baseball caps in khaki and blue denim sporting the Monterey Horse Park logo are now available for your wearing or gifting pleasure. In addition to covering your head and adding style to many casual occasions, they serve as natural "billboards" for the Park. One size fits all. $20 (includies shipping). To order, contact Anne Cribbs.
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| Like Us on Facebook!
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We're on Facebook! Please "Like" us there so we can share tips, news, and special offers about the Monterey Horse Park. Just click HERE or on the Facebook icon above and click the "Like" button!
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