No horsing around

Tariq Malik

CENTRAL PARK -- Equestrian center officials have pulled the reins up

on their planned expansion here over worries that horse manure and other

contaminants could seep into Huntington Lake.

The concerns revolve around a detention pond in the northwest section

of the center. That pond, city officials say, is the low spot of the

facility where rainwater and runoff flow. Because of the pond is near

Huntington Lake, concerns have been raised about waste water from horse

washing and contaminants from manure entering the pond.

“That pond serves as a filter for Huntington Lake and catches runoff

silt and soil that erodes during rainstorms before the water flows into

the lake,” said David Webb, a city engineer, adding that the pond also

keeps sand and decomposed granite from filling up the lake.

“Under the Clean Water Act, we as a city are able to bring areas up to

code during redevelopment and construction projects such as this,” Webb

said.

To address the concerns, the Planning Commission’s approval has been

postponed and officials from the Huntington Central Park Equestrian

Center have teamed up with the city to iron out the plans.

“Right now we’re working on our water quality maintenance plan with

the city,” said Mary Warren, owner of the Huntington Central Park

Equestrian Center. “Our relationship with the city has been great, and we

expect to be ready to return to the commission on Feb. 27.”

Some alternatives include putting roofs over manure bunkers to keep

rainwater off the horse waste and drawing up a landscaping plan to

address dust and dirt runoff, city officials added.

First opened in 1982, the equestrian center comprises 25 acres at

18381 Goldenwest St. and 180 acres of riding trails. It serves as home

for about 400 horses.

Among the new facilities to be constructed by the center are three

office trailers, manure bunkers and horse-wash racks, as well as a

4,000-square-foot maintenance yard and a decomposed granite and sand

storage area.

New fencing and main office remodeling are also included in the plan,

as well as 20 pipe corrals for the animals already in place.