Stop Del Mar Horsepark’s Permanent Closure

Author: Laura DeMarco

Date: February 7, 2021

By Friends of Del Mar Horsepark Co-founders, Carla Echols-Hayes and Laura DeMarco.

The 22^nd DAA board meets this Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 1:30 pm to hear the Horsepark Committee’s report on their recent community outreach meeting. Residents of Rancho Santa Fe and neighboring communities supported reopening Del Mar Horsepark, our region’s last large remaining public equestrian sports facility and public riding school, and opposed developing the 65-acre property for higher intensity residential or commercial use.

Experienced riders also stated at the Jan. 29^th Committee meeting that the Fairgrounds wasn’t a viable replacement for Horsepark’s riding school or most Horsepark events because of scheduling conflicts with the summer Fair and horseracing and lack of sufficient warm-up and training rings with proper footing.

As public property, we have a voice in Horsepark’s future. The 22^nd DAA board continues to solicit community input so send respectful emails with subject line “Save Del Mar Horsepark” and sign up to speak at Tuesday’s virtual board meeting regarding Item 5C, Horsepark. Share that Horsepark is a regional and national treasure which protects endangered open space, offers an irreplaceable equestrian sports facility and public riding school, and preserves our historic agricultural and equine traditions in alignment with the 22^nd DAA’s mission.

Water Quality

Since water remediation issues contributed to the recent closure of Horsepark, Friends of Del Mar Horsepark provided the 22^nd DAA Committee with documentation of the substantial water quality protection infrastructure already installed and maintained there:

• All 10 horse wash racks are covered and tied directly to sewer lines, with regularly maintained pumping stations, as well as engineered flood control ditches. Horse waste from the stalls and facility is also removed daily.
• Extensive waddle borders the entire property, keeping silt away from the San Dieguito River Valley.

Notably, no similar infrastructure existed at the two horse facilities that Orange County Coastkeepers sued due to water pollution—lawsuits that spurred the 22^nd DAA to close Horsepark. Unlike Horsepark, the OC horse facilities did not have covered wash racks connected to a sewer line. They also did not have Horsepark’s extensive waddle (rolls of straw) that inhibit sediment from draining into nearby creeks.

Other Uses

An experienced CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) practitioner testified that the 65-acre property’s use under CEQA is restricted to “equestrian activities only” according to its categorical exemption when the 22^nd DAA acquired the property in 1993. Any change in use would require a new, very costly environmental impact report (EIR) and approval from the California Coastal Commission. Change in use could also trigger litigation.  

The CEQA restriction for equestrian use did not deter two Surf Cup Sports representatives from indicating interest in leasing Horsepark at the Jan 29^th 22^nd DAA Committee meeting. No one voiced support for Surf Cup’s proposal since these operators evicted all horses from the adjacent 120-acre polo fields that they lease from the City of San Diego, are being sued by neighboring residents, and do not have experience with horse-related events. 

Following the Committee meeting, the Coalition to Preserve the Polo Fields Neighborhood sent an alert warning about Surf Cup Sports’ interest in Horsepark:  Updates — Coalition to Preserve the Polo Fields Neighborhood: “During public comment, Surf Cup Sports VP Rob Haskell stated that he understands the “historical use of that property is important to people” and wanted to propose some collaboration for uses to compliment the Horsepark equestrian uses. That is quite a statement coming from a group who repeatedly failed to recognize the importance of the historical use of the polo fields for equestrians and proceeded to kick out the SD Polo Club from using the fields Surf Cup now occupies…

To the people who care about Horsepark and hope to reinstate equestrian uses there, watch out. These are the same folks who refused to coordinate their tournament dates with the 22nd DAA in 2019 so as not to conflict with the busy County Fair dates resulting in dangerous traffic gridlock. These are the same folks who illegally pumped stormwater onto Horsepark property to try to salvage their Thanksgiving tournament after a rainstorm in 2019…”

Friends Hiring Storm Water Experts

To help reopen Horsepark, Friends of Del Mar Horsepark hired storm water experts to help the cash-strapped 22^nd DAA find cost-effective solutions for water protection. The Friends engaged Tory R. Walker Engineering on Feb. 3 to identify cost-effective water remediation and assist with regulatory compliance. The firm’s 8-member engineering team are well-respected experts in floodplain and stormwater management.

Leading the Horsepark engagement is founder Tory Walker, a registered Professional Engineer, Certified Floodplain Manager, and widely recognized stormwater quality expert with 35 years of experience in water resources planning and engineering, Walker has worked with federal, state and local regulators in providing environmental solutions for clients throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Arizona. Funding is supported by donations to the Friends Save Del Mar Horsepark.

Friends of Del Mar Horsepark support the facility being leased to a well-capitalized, knowledgeable equine operator who can provide needed water remediation and profits for the 22^nd DAA. The Friends are helping find cost-effective solutions so horses can return to Horsepark and equestrian activities can resume as soon as possible.

Act now to save Del Mar Horsepark:

• JOIN FRIENDS OF DEL MAR HORSEPARK by signing org petition
• CONTRIBUTE to Horsepark water remediation solutions
• ALERT your friends and neighbors
• CONTACT us via text at (858) 692-5194