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WASHINGTON STATE <br />HORSE PARK <br />March 2,zAw <br />Senetcr jim lloneYford <br />Way and Means, Vice'Chair Capital Eudget fsrnrnitt€e <br />LLZ lr\t Newhouse Euilding <br />P0 Box 43415 <br />Oiympia, WA 985ff4 <br />Senalor JudY Warnick <br />Chair. €conomic Development Connmitt€e <br />i03 trv Nes,house Euitding <br />PS Box 4S413 <br />Olyrnpia, WA 98504 <br />Dear Senators; <br />Ihe Washington state t"iorss Park Authorily Board and Exerulive Oir*ctor believe ir' i5 imperative for the <br />Hs*e park rc add a weu-decigned and .onstructad covered Arena to ifs faeilities in order to adequatell <br />serv* the State's diverse hor$e spon disciplines and aehieve the Park's rnission as sct fgfth in the <br />Authorit/s enabling legislatiott in 1995, fiCW79A'30' <br />Eaclground The Authority was able {s se{ule 112 acree of very suitable and beautiiul land in ce*tral <br />Washinggon a$ a donation from Suncadia relort, and to develop the Park's initial infrastr$cturc thanks to <br />a $3.5m grant lrom the State's 300647 capital budget, Since opening in ?010, the Park has ndded a *tfi <br />competitign arenA, 80 rnore permAnent 5tall5 for a total of i'60 today, and built tw6 tross csunttil <br />c*urs€s and a comB*titive trail cours.e. All these irnprovements and rnany other impo*ant arnenities <br />and equipmenr acquisitionl have been made possible by siSnificant private donations and volunteerism' <br />as well as rainvestrnent of operating proceeds, businesr sponsorships and a county grant for bleachers' <br />The horse community values and supports tfle Park, and is eager for it t$ cantinue development into th€ <br />prernier cCImpetition facility in the pacific Ncrthwest" The Park has develsped a reputation for qualitv <br />facilities and exeellent footing {scnnatimes referred to as "grcund" in lvestfrn direlplinel} which is <br />critical for horso safety and periormance. ws now hold 40 events during lhc April to oftobsr 5e{5on' <br />atrracting over 30,000 visitors, and host sorne of the largest and molt prestiSisus annuai even* !n the <br />State's English and Western disciplines'