CN/ALL/VIEW--Lt. Daniel Leas 2 stands still while Mark Allen does rope tricks around him at the new Bradley Bridle Park grand opening Saturday May 28, 2005. View photo Henry Vargas.
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Las Vegas' first equestrian-themed park opened May 28 at the corner of Horse Drive and Bradley Road, near Shadow Ridge High School.
Horse owners participated in a variety of horse-themed activities at the new, 4.8-acre Bradley Bridle Park, including demonstrations about preparing for a horse show, mechanical horse roping displays and pony rides.
The park includes pull-through parking stalls with low dust-producing surfaces, hitching posts, watering stations, shaded corrals, bathrooms and a third of a mile of lit trails that are separated from the roadway.
The park has three arenas, including a competition-sized arena with bleachers and lights for nighttime use. The main arena will be used for training, recreational riding and show events and includes a shade shelter. To reduce maintenance costs, no grass was used in the park. Instead, builders installed low water-use landscaping.
KB Home developed and built the park in partnership with the City of Las Vegas and in compliance with open space requirements.
"I think it's exciting that there is a community equestrian park," said Bob Byer, president of the Nevada Horse Council. "From talking to neighbors in the area, they are looking forward to using it."
Though Byer has his own arena for his five horses, he said the new park will "really serve a lot of people who don't have an arena in that surrounding area."
"It is a great asset to the neighborhood," he said. "I look forward to using it when they have special events out there."
Las Vegas Councilman Michael Mack, who represents northwest Las Vegas, said the park gives valley residents a place to ride while enjoying the views of nearby mountains.
"This park will serve horse riders for generations to come and will be a place where children learn to ride, play and learn about the sport (of horseback riding)," he said. "The park is an example of what positive things can happen through a public-private partnership."
But horse owner Linda Mayers, who lives nearby, was concerned about the trails leading to the new park.
"The access to get to the park is not there," Mayers said. "They are not consistent. To get to the park from our house, riding your horse would be very difficult. One of the bridle paths they have is paved. With (horse) shoes, it is very difficult to walk on pavement."
Despite her concerns, Mayers, whose daughter Tara is a competitive dressage rider and a senior at Shadow Ridge, said she is excited about the new park.
"There's a bunch of horse people out here," she said.
Another equestrian park, to be named Western Trails Equestrian Park, is currently under construction in southwest Las Vegas, near Warm Springs Road and Decatur Boulevard. And planning has begun for the Northwest Equestrian Park, a large park to be located near Floyd Lamb State Park as part of the Northwest Open Space Plan.
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