A little later than promised, here's the 44-page Texas Horse Park briefing the city council's Economic Development Committee will review tomorrow morning. We'll follow along as Paul Dyer, head of Park and Rec, attempts to convince the council to spend $12 million in '06 bond funds to build out Phase 1 of the facility -- if, that is, the city can find an outsider to take over for the nonprofit that never could raise the matching $15 million needed to get it trotting along the Trinity.
Per the presentation, as part of the city's proposed RFP it wants the would-be facility manager to commit to the Texas Horse Park for 20 years, with two five-year renewal options. And while the new operator wouldn't be responsible for putting money toward development -- since, after all, the city would maintain ownership of the $2.56-million property paid for with '98 bond money -- it would have a say-so in the design if it ponies up some dough. Also:
The Operator will be required to dedicate the facility to the preservation and expansion of Texas' equestrian tradition by providing a venue for education, competition and community involvement in horse-related and other agricultural activities.The city hopes to put out RFP in February and award the bid in May. But still, there's no time line for construction: "Schedule is dependent on the type of design and construction scenario proposed by the Operator." Initially, you may recall, the Trinity Trust once expected ground to be broken on the Texas Horse Park by 2007.
