Lakeport has approved a request to relocate an equestrian venue from the Westside Park to the City of Lakeport municipal Sewer District (CLMSD) property near Highway 175.
The site in Westside Park was not large enough for the proposed facility. After meeting with Westside Park Committee and the equestrian organizations, the city agreed on trying to relocate the venue to the CLMSD property.
Public Works Director Doug Grider said if there were other events happening in Westside Park while riders were there it would cause issues with space, especially with horse trailers filling parking lots. He agreed it just wasn’t a feasible space.
“The list went on and on and we have been trying to come up with some way to make it work and we put our heads together and we felt this property offered everything that Westside Park did not,” Grider said.
Some of the conditions for the relocation have been approved. Westside Community Park Committee and equestrian groups have been directed to provide engineered plans for the park. They must also be responsible for all the earthwork, site improvements and work with the city staff through the phases of development to meet code requirements.
Grider added that the size of the building they want is around 600 feet and the groups would be funding the project. The city will not have to address any of the cost.
Some of the land under consideration extends beyond city limits into the county’s jurisdiction; however, city officials are hoping the county waives the fees of permits needed.
“It’s going to take a little bit of work to make this all happen,” Grider said. “This facility is going to serve all of the county and it is not reserved just for those in the city. This will be a regional equestrian park that everyone can use so we are hoping Lake County jumps on that and waive fees that are required.”
The City will work to obtain an encroachment permit from Cal-Trans to construct a driveway for the equestrian park, will need to apply for a “General Plan Conformity” from the county and do a survey for elevation of the property to determine the construction of the park.
Carol Thorn who is a rider in Lake County and on the Board of Directors for the Lake County Horse Council said there used to be a local arena in the fairgrounds, but access has become limited in recent years.
“Our kids have no place to go,” Thorn said. “Our kids need a local arena that can’t be taken away.”
Mayor Pro Tem Mireya Turner said horse riding is a part of the Lake County heritage and it is amazing to see people have so much interest in something like this.
“To be able to just see such a totally interesting world developed around the love and the care of horse and that relationship is super cool, so I’m really glad it is one of the priorities of our council to make sure that they have a space to continue that,” Turner said.
