PORT TOWNSEND — “If we build it, they will come.”

That’s what Christina Pivarnik — Jefferson Equestrian Association secretary, city of Port Townsend marketing director and a Team Jefferson member — told the Jefferson County commissioners Monday.

She was among those touting the benefits of a proposed Jefferson County Equestrian Events Center and Park on county owned land south of the former landfill.

Presenting 14 support letters, Jefferson Equestrian Association President Kim McGuire said the park had the potential of fulfilling equestrian needs in both Jefferson and Clallam counties.

The park would be open to the public for hiking, cycling and dog events, as well as horseback riding.

Because the 80-acre site is on land zoned for solid waste disposal and has methane and leachate monitoring “wells” in strategic locations around it, county officials said it must go through a solid waste handling facility permit process.

The three county commissioners are expected to review the proposal and plan action at a later date.

‘Equine economy’

McGuire talked of the power of the “equine economy” of both counties, including about 500 horse-owners in Jefferson County and about 1,100 in Clallam County.

McGuire said that nationally 2 million people own horses, which has a $39 billion economic impact.

Walter Briggs, a forester who has volunteered to consult for the equestrian association, told the commissioners that the timber on the proposed park acreage is valued in today’s weak timber market at $150,000.

Under the proposed agreement, the county would remain the owner of the land and would manage the timber on the property while the association would make its own improvements and manage the park’s events and activities.

Briggs said the basis for the site’s forest management plan was “sustainable management” to best benefit the county.

“You can have your forest and you can eat it, too,” he told the commissioners.

“You can play the timber market as you wish.”

But he recommended against the county cutting timber now in a poor market.

Low-impact logging

Low-impact logging using horses, such as that contracted by Naval Magazine Indian Island, is an option, he said.

McGuire said the association has developed a volunteer partnership program that would have adults helping children and horses at the center.

Austin Allen, a 13-year-old Sequim Middle School students and one of the Discovery Pony Club’s 12 members, said the park would allow young people who live in tight quarters to keep their horses at the park and have room to ride.

“It would benefit the pony club,” said Allen, who has ridden for four years. “It would be a facility that would be closer.”

Most present recreational and competitive horse facilities are “out of the area,” Allen said, adding he has learned he must feed and clean up after his horse every day, rain or shine.

Pivarnik said the association has wanted to establish such a park for 10 years and even considered purchasing privately owned land.

But because county land was available, the association believes “this park needs to have public access and that’s what we’ve tried to do. It is for the community.”

County Administrator Philip Morley said the proposed park would not only benefit youth, but that a percentage of the fees from events would be shared with the county.

Jim Costello, association vice president who builds cross-country horse courses in Pebble Beach, Calif., and his brother, Mick, would design the association’s horse park.

Mick Costello is building the national horse park in Lexington, Ky., for the World Equestrian Games.

They believe such parks pay for themselves.

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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.