Court directs staff to seek equine facility site at Myers Park; will use limited county resources for site identification

Collin County Commissioners Court directed staff to identify a suitable location at Myers Park for a sheriff’s office equine therapy program and to return with plans and status updates. The court’s direction modifies earlier 2024 guidance that limited county resource use for the project.

County Administrator Yoon Kim reviewed the court’s earlier July 2024 order, which passed 3–2 and approved construction of an equine facility on county property with the requirement that the project cause “no financial impact to the county” and that the county auditor approve any use of sheriff’s commissary funds. Kim said the Valor participants are currently located at an off-county ranch and that staff and the sheriff agree the courthouse campus is not the best site for the facility. “Staff has been looking at Myers Park as a potential location,” Kim said, noting Myers Park has existing animal and ranching infrastructure that could reduce new utility and site costs.

Commissioners debated whether locating the facility at Myers Park would require any county resources. Some said limited staff time to perform site identification and due diligence would be necessary; Commissioner Fletcher asked that staff also evaluate using or improving existing park facilities rather than building new structures. The motion that passed directs staff to find a suitable site in Myers Park and to use county resources to determine the best location, while promising regular status updates to the court.

The motion passed 4 to 0. Commissioners reiterated that construction or operational costs must adhere to the court’s prior requirement that county taxpayers not bear unintended expenses; they asked staff to return with specifics about utilities, leasing versus building, and any required budget or policy changes before construction or commitments are made.