Horse Park in Jackson County?

[misspaintedd]

I know there has been some talk about this for a while, but it does not make sense to me whatsoever. How can Jackson County even BEGIN to think about bringing a 1000 acre horse park when all of this garbage is going on with Animal Control?

[LLStar117]

Thats going in Jackson Co? I thought it was going in Lansing. I don't read the news that much tho so I probably missed something.

[titan]

Are you talking about the proposal by MEP?

[bleve]

As I understand it, a couple years ago there was a proposal to put one near the I-96/I-69 interchange that was shot down by township zoning and other issues. I recently heard talk of putting one in Jackson County, but have not heard any further on the issue. I'm also aware that MEP has requested proposals for development of a park but so far as I know they have not made any plans public.

[mattmercier]

There has been much talk of putting one in Springport, outside Jackson. Jackson and Grand Rapids are in the running still. Michigan Equine Partnership is spearheading this effort.


And yes... I agree. In a livestock unfriendly atmosphere Jackson County has created it might be a tough sell. One of our arguments/talking points with the Livestock Owner's meeting that was well attended.

FYI Jackson County residents, we are in the process of planning a followup meeting at hopefully the end of this month.

[titan]

See www.enterprisegroup.org for their Jackson proposal if you are interested. They DO NOT get my vote FWIW.

[misspaintedd]

thanks for the update!

[kzp]

Okay, I don't understand why you all are against this?
I agree we have horrible animal control...but are you going to let that stop something positive for Jax county and for the horse community?
I would think if we get this park that it will be a good thing and maybe be a force to change the way animal control thinks or gets away with stuff??
By the way it is coming somewhere in Michigan...that's the fact.
Right now MEP is taking proposals from interested county's.
And Jax is one of them.
I can only see this as a good thing, it will boost the local economy plus bring in a few full time jobs.
And the building of it alone would give many people and local contruction companies, etc. work.
Plus this is not only going to be a horse park, they are talking a huge world class expo facility, with convention center and colliseum type arenas for concerts, boat shows, plus a campground with trails & many other things....
Let's do something positive for Jax county and not let Animal control- control this too?
And if you want to have your imput heard....go to the enterprise group's website listed in one of the above posts and get on one of the committees..get involved.. don't just stand back and watch.

[titan]

kzp - I am not sure if you are directing your comment to me or not but I would like to clarify that my opinion has nothing to do with animal control nor do I think that a local AC would have any impact on a proposed horse park regardless of location.

I also have not sat back & watched. As a matter of fact, I was a panel member at the MEP convention last year and presented to the 'horse park' committee before they sent out the rfps.

In my opinion, I also do not agree that "By the way it is coming somewhere in Michigan...that's the fact." since the proposals must include funding for the construction & operation of the facility and no one has addressed that MAJOR issue in their literature.

[kzp]

titan: No not necessarily directed at you or anyone in particular, sorry if I sounded harsh.. I have just heard plenty of negativity toward it and just don't understand why?
That's great you were involved... and thanks for posting the link above.
As far as I understand it, there is grant money for funding and the rest or most of it will then be from major & minor sponsorships.