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Hillsborough commissioners authorize stakeholder engagement for proposed Bacchus Equestrian Center relocation
Summary
The board voted unanimously to seek stakeholder input on a draft RFP to exchange the county’s aging Bacchus Equestrian Center for a new facility at the Northwest Equestrian Park; county staff said the move could improve access, expand programs and address safety concerns.
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 3 authorized county staff to conduct stakeholder engagement on a draft request for proposals that would exchange the county’s existing Bacchus Equestrian Center for a new, similar facility at the Northwest Equestrian Park.
John Mueller, director of facilities management and real estate services, told commissioners the current Bacchus facility is aging, sits on about nine acres and is reached through a residential neighborhood. The draft RFP focuses on a single replacement facility at the Northwest site, roughly two to three miles from the current location, which team members say offers more space, trail access and about 300 acres of adjacent conservation land. Mueller said staff will seek two new appraisals of the current property and present a final RFP to the board after engagement with stakeholders.
The move drew public comment from Bacchus Horses for Handicapped representatives who asked to be treated as full stakeholders in the planning process. Tamara Randall, a parent and volunteer, asked that the nonprofit receive regular updates and be included in decisions about site security, barn design and storm drainage. Kim High Strong, a long-serving board member of the Bacchus nonprofit, urged the county to let the nonprofit help prescribe the new facility’s design and specifications and warned against repeating a past unsolicited proposal she said undervalued the nonprofit.
Mueller said the RFP preserves current programming and calls for facilities that are "equal or better" and that staff would assess the site for environmental and safety concerns; he also noted a future fire-rescue station is planned near the proposed site, which could improve emergency access. Commissioners emphasized avoiding any interruption in services while the exchange proceeds.
The board unanimously approved the motion to move forward with stakeholder meetings and further work on the draft RFP. The county will return to the board with a final RFP after stakeholder engagement and appraisal work is complete.
