Budget cuts cause closure of Reach 11 horse park
MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~ 7/14/2010

For more than 20 years equestrian enthusiasts have been coming to Horse Lovers Park, part of the Reach 11 Recreation Area.
Due to Phoenix’s fiscal struggles the facility, on 90-acres located between Cave Creek Road and Scottsdale Road off of Tatum Blvd., with four lighted arenas, a round pen, cattle pens, tie stations, water troughs, announcers stands and spectator bleachers, was forced to close on July 1.
“The whole equestrian community has been supportive of the park for a long time,” said Brenda Smith, the park’s equestrian coordinator. “It has been a great park and I’ve loved working with the people that have enjoyed it over the years.”
Despite that fact, a staff of 8 full-time and one part-time employee shrunk to 3 employees from 2007 to 2010. The lack of staffing made coverage for the rental of the facilities, primarily on weekends, a challenge.
“We would have events here beginning as early as 5 a.m. and that would go as late as midnight and it was becoming very difficult to host the events as we dropped staff,” Smith said.
Rather than let the facility, which was available for rent for horse shows, gymkhanas, roping events, workshops, clinics, and demonstrations, go by the wayside the city is hoping a local non-profit will emerge to keep the North Valley venue going.
“I’m not sure what the time table will be, but the season for events here was generally September through the first part of May,” Smith said. “The city is going to put out a Request For Proposals with the hope that one of the local non-profits will emerge to operate the park.”
As funding for the park dwindled the city slowly reduced its hours and then last year introduced a recreation card as a way to raise funds to offset costs of running the facility.
Year-round cards were available for $40 for adults, $20 for youth and $100 for families.
Despite the proceeds from selling more than 100 cards, the park, which drew approximately 6,000 people per year, was forced to close.
Despite the closure Smith is quick to point out the fact that there are still equestrian opportunities available at Reach 11 Recreation Area.
“We’ve got more than 20 miles of multi-use trails,” she said. “Those will remain open for hiking, biking or horse back riding. Equestrian riders can still drive their trailers in here to ride.”
The trails are home to numerous plant species including mesquite, palo verde, acacia, hackberry, desert broom and ironwood. Common wildlife species include; gamble’s quail, morning dove, cottontail rabbit, coyote, and javelina.
For information on Horse Lovers Park go to www.phoenix.gov/PARKS/phxequct.html.