West Virginia University - News and Information Services
Equestrian Recreation Center to be part of partnership program
The area’s newest and most unique equestrian recreation facility is being developed through a collaborative effort between West Virginia University and Fairmont State College students, the WVU Extension Service, members of the Bunner’s Ridge Riding Club and local citizens through a grant recently awarded by the WVU-W. K. Kellogg "Expanding Community Partnerships" program.
The students, area landscape specialists and community volunteers will begin constructing an overnight primitive campground for equestrian riders. They will design the facility’s layout, develop a plan, install drainage pipes, identify trees to be preserved for soil conservation and clear property for a pavilion. Facilities will also include bathhouses and electrical hookups for campers. Future plans include a dining and recreational facility, horse barns and other amenities.
The facility, called the Bunner’s Ridge Riding Club Horse Park, is located on a 12-acre site in northeastern Marion County, which was donated by the late Col. Jack "Hardrock" Bunner. The club hopes that the facility becomes a preferred destination for trail-riding enthusiasts, a stopping place for horse transporters on long-distance trips and a catalyst for additional tourism and economic development in the area.
The riding club is holding a groundbreaking ceremony at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the site. Several regional government officials, including Marion County’s legislative delegation, county commissioners, community members and the public are invited. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded WVU a four-year, $1.25 million grant in 1998 to incorporate service learning into the curriculum across all WVU colleges and campuses. Since its inception, this grant, known as the W.K. Kellogg - WVU "Expanding Community Partnerships" Program, has created partnerships among communities, faculty and students around the state.
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