City spurs on horse society

City council has appoved the ambitious vision the Prince George Horse Society has for the equine and rodeo facilities at Exhibition Park.

Council instructed city staff to work with the society to develop a impliamentation plan for the multi-million dollar proposal.

"We're not here expecting to recieve millions of dollars, we're here to get the city's approval and support for the plan," society project manager Joan Chess-Woollacott said.

The plan calls for the creation of an indoor horse arena with seating for 2,000, a covered outdoor arena with seating for 1,000, new barn, additional paddocks, expanded warm-up space, cross-country trail, workshop, office space, rebuilt hay stalls, RV parking, horse care facility and portable stalls structure.

Socity preident Barb Warkentine said the vision is a long-term vision whcih will require years of work and millions of dollars in grants.

"This is not a one-year project - this is not a five - year project, it's a long-term thing," Warkentine said.

The demand for the existing city facilities at the Exhibition Park, which the society leases and operates, has exceeded the current capacity, she added.

Coun. Don Bassermann said the proposal has the possibility of tapping into recreational tourism.

"Several communities have found a way to take advantage of recreational activities to rigourously persue economic activity," Basseramann said. "I would hope that if we refer this to administriation that... Initiatives Prince George would be part of that conversation."

Mayor Dan Rogers said the city does have some considerable financial committments with the Canada Winter Games, RCMP detachment and performing arts centre.

"We will face financial challenges, but we will only overcome them by having a clear plan," Rogers said.