Marylanders Asked to Provide DNR with Equine Recreational Use Information

Via the Equiery:



Posted by EditorFebruary 21, 2013
Do you compete at Rosaryville or Fair Hill? Ride at Tuckahoe or the League of Maryland Horsemen (Marriottsville)? Do you foxchase in the Patuxent or the Patapsco? Trail ride just about anywhere in this state?
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking citizens for their input on State outdoor recreation facilities and services in areas throughout Maryland. Of course, we would like to see a lot of input from horse people, as this is for their Long Range Plan Land Preservation and Recreational Plan, and we want to make sure that equestrian needs and desires are part of that long range plan.
Unfortunately, by the time the memo was forwarded to someone at The Equiery, DNR had already gathered information from those in Southern Maryland earlier this month and a meeting for the Western Region will be announced shortly.
The recreational evaluations are the first step in a comprehensive statewide effort to enhance existing recreation areas in Maryland, these include; State parks, forests, wildlife areas and trails.
DNR will ask participants to assess the extent to which outdoor recreation facilities, programs and services meet the needs of the community and identify future demand and need. Horse people: this is our chance to be part of the planning process, for us to be proactive instead of reactive! This is the equestrian community’s chance to avoid a WSSC-type disaster.
The public input will help guide the update of the Maryland Land Preservation and Recreation Plan,which will serve as a roadmap for future State outdoor recreation facilities and services.
The Department has hired a nationally-known parks and recreation management consulting firm, GreenPlay, LLC, to oversee the Recreation Component of this planning process.

Eastern Region ─  March 6 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Talbot County Community Recreation Center, 10028 Ocean Gateway (Rt. 50), Easton
Central Region ─ March 6 from 6 to 8 p.m., Howard County Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia
Western Region ─ ****Please note, this meeting has changed toMarch 5  from 4 to 6 p.m., Allegany College (Room CE8), 12401 Willowbrook Rd, Cumberland
Cost: Free