The Parks and Recreation Commission Tuesday evening started out with persistent horse people running up against immovable neighbors. And in the end, it still seemed that way, but not quite as severe.
Parks staff has proposed to solve the long running problem of horse people pulling up in their big pick-ups towing two-horse trailers, and parking them right next to homes, and in some cases, littering the street with fresh horse waste, both solid and liquid. There have been run-in’s with the neighbors. And the Sheriff has been called several times. Neighbors complained of the noise, the horse waste and a number of what they called inconsiderate horse riders. But the bottom line, according to staff, is that horse riders have a clear and legal right to ride their horses on U.S. Forest Service land inside the gate and up the dirt road to Hobart and Marlette Lakes. Staff also suggested that the gated fence that stretches across the dead-end on Hobart might be moved eastward a short ways to provide more room horse pick-up/trailer parking and turn-around space.
Meanwhile, City Parks staff is also proposing a small “natural park” for just inside the gate. Picnic tables, rest rooms, trash cans, minor parking. Not much else. However, the neighbors aren’t too keen on that either, although they seemed less fiesty about it. However, one neighbor complained that kids at the park might be less than safe wandering around the unloading and loading of horses.
Others supported putting the park/trailhead at the western end of Hobart because the road is the only major access to Hobart and Marlette Lakes that is motor-vehicle free. But some neighbors complained that they like hiking up the road and not being bothered by horses either.
Members of the All State Nevada horse riding group said they always pick up after their horses in their gathering area. They’re courteous to hikers and bikers. They want to be good neighbors, and they want to protect and preserve their right to access trails in the Sierra.
With that, the Parks and Recreation Commission told staff to embark on a preliminary design of a park/trailhead project. The commission told park staff that they should vigorously pursue cooperation with the horse groups and with Lakeview neighbors. Parks planner Vern Krahn told NewsCarsonCity.com that the “conceptual design” would be ready by January, at which time they’ll hold another big public hearing and see how everybody feels about what Krahn n’ Crew comes up with.
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