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Oaspite these imprc$ly€ rccompll*hmentr, the Park ls unable ts meet todty$ marletplace <br />requiremcntc for protection frorn thc y$eathcr rnd greater afacity. All of the Parft's cut'rent facllities <br />are outdoor*; the only sheher is a 30x30'tent for people and stalls fEr horses. When conditions are wet, <br />participants and footing suffer, {For exampl*, in 2016 rain in June caused many rlders to cancel from one <br />of our largest shsws, and all three eyents booked lor October cancelled due to weather.) This hurts the <br />park's reputation afid revenues, and s$ains our relaticnship with organlzers, But equally, when <br />conditions get extrernely sunnylhotlwindy, pafticipants, horses and cattle need protection, And finallV, <br />in todat's conpetltive environagnt, rnany trainers and sltow organiz*rs derrand a controlled <br />atrnosphers - lree of outdoor distraclions " to en$ure a focu*ed, pssltive experlence for their riders. <br />Why shculd the State suBpart thb prsj€ct \ryith a $lrn approprlatlo* at thl$ titnt? l'he Park currentlY <br />generates about $3rfi in econprnic benefits each season, but we are r.lnable to increase that amount <br />withour grorving our current biggest shows *nd adding rnore large multi-day svent"s. The latier cdtegc:tl, <br />is generally controlled by experienced organizers who will nal iry , new venue unless they ean tnanage <br />risks *uch as wsather imp?cis. We believ* this $Zrn inv*stfient will e*able iir to buitd a high quelity <br />csvered ar*na, and add anoth€r $3m of anntai etonomic irnpact in 5 years, which will repeat eaeh yeai <br />ln addition. this project will provide suslainat)b op*reting relren$e$ for the Parh and Lrefter serve the <br />State's larg* and diverse horse communlty whieh is our rnission. <br />W* believe the florse Park has proeen its valye and ability to su$taln itself. Sut in srder to lhrive . we <br />need the covered nrena, We strangly request and tJrg€ you ts f::nd this imponant proiect. and *ro very <br />grateful for rupport frorn the State for this very ttnique public'privat* partnership' <br />Sincer*ly, <br />Leslie M, Thurston <br />Execdlive frirectpr, cn behalf cf the Authotity Eoard