We are excited to update you on the progress with the proposal and we are asking for your help.
If you have been wanting to do something about Heritage Park, we’ve done a lot of leg work and it is time for the community to show up and support the initiative.
– Amanda
When my husband got out of the Army in 2016, we returned home and I started teaching and training full time at my family’s farm in Watkinsville. Whenever my horse friends and I chatted about Heritage, the conversation was very similar: MAN those trails are nice but its a shame about that arena.
Heritage Park Arena has long been a missed opportunity for the county and the community. The original purpose of the park was for ag education and it was built in the 1990’s. It is a stunning facility that commands attention and has a lot of potential. However, due to a variety of reasons, the arena is not safe for equestrian use and largely sits unused.
The footing has not been maintained correctly and has become compacted to the point where it is a slip risk and could cause injures to horse’s joints and tendons at speeds greater than a walk. I tell non-horse people it’s like asking our Little League players to play on a concrete baseball field and then when no one signs up just assuming that no one wants to play baseball.
There are other recommendations we are making for safety and maintenance – a barrier between the footing and concrete, a second well, equipment and staff education for footing maintenance, a warm-up arena. In later phases, we would love to see trailer parking with hook-ups, a second outdoor arena with all-weather footing, maybe an additional barn, and more.
Proposal Concept Plan
Huge thank you to Bob Smith of Smith Planning Group and Covenant Grove for his assistance on this Concept.
Want to help? Here is what you can do.
Data – We need some data to cite on the economic impact that this project could have – data that county leaders can look at to help them understand the value of the investment. Email us at athensareahorsecommunity@gmail.com.
Your attendance and opinion at the BOC’s Town Hall this week – I made a mistake. I did not make it clear to county officials that we have a whole community of people who want these improvements to the arena. The Oconee Board of Commissioners is having a Town Hall Novenber 16th at 6pm at the Civic Center: 2661 Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville, GA 30677. View the County’s meeting calendar.
We need community members to come and help make the case for Heritage Park. Talk about the impact that the investment could have on the county, youth education and development, economic development, agriculture, quality of life… OR if you aren’t up for a speech, then show up in your boots and leave the hay in your hair so they know you’re a horse person 😉
Yes, but WHY?
Our area has a very strong horse community and more horse people are moving here every month. Our data shows they are moving from out of state, but also horse owners are being pushed out of historical horse communities like Alpharetta due to development pressure. Watkinsville boasts on of the best therapeutic riding programs in the area – Butterfly Dreams. And with our proximity to some of the best veterinary care in the nation at UGA’s Vet school, our area is going to continue to see increases in the horse population.
Horse shows are fantastic sources of tourism revenue as it is estimated that each horse at a show brings 2 and a half humans with it. These humans spend money at our gas stations, hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers.
Horses are proven to lower heart rates – unless you’re a horse mom of a fear-less toddler who rides like her pony’s tail is on fire (I’m only half joking – Amanda). Horse sports teach children leadership and communication skills. They improve work ethic, accountability, self-discipline and patience. It is a big responsibility and requires excellent fitness levels. As Winston Churchill said, “There’s something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
What’s Next?
- Come to Oconee’s BOC Town Hall on Nov 16th at 6pm – Civic Center to help show county leaders that it’s not just that one crazy horse lady named Amanda that wants this project approved.
- We present the full proposal to Oconee’s Rec Advisory Board on January 16th – 5pm at Oconee Veterans Park. This meeting is open to the public but it is not yet posted on the County’s public meeting calendar. We welcome your attendance.
- We will continue to update you on opportunities to get involved. We are hopeful and expect a period of Public Input for Concept Plan so please keep an eye out for the chance to comment.