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Design Criteria of Equestrian Park: The Case of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Conference Paper · November 2006

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S-043
Design Criteria of Equestrian Park:
1
The Case of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
KAYA, L.G.*
* ZKÜ Bartın Orman Fakültesi, Peyzaj
Mimarlığı Bölümü
Abstract
The Equestrian Park is proposed to be
redeveloped because of its high visibility to many
users such as different equestrian groups,
shows, auctions, competitions, breed shows, etc.
The case area is between the east side of
Portland Avenue and the west side of I-44. This
site selected as a main equestrian center
because of grading and construction problems,
easy access, and providing other recreational
activities such as picnicking, walking and jogging,
water features, etc. Therefore, the project of the
case area includes mentioned features and
facilities. It is hoped that this will make these
facilities a successful regional attraction for the
many hundreds of people and horses involved in
showing, rodeo, and other equestrian activities at
the Equestrian Park.
As a conclusion, according to the determined
design criteria of the Equestrian Park, the
program elements have been evaluated in a
matrix. After this evaluation, four design
alternatives have been developed. The
alternatives have been mixed up and created an
appropriate proposal master plan.
Keywords: Equestrian Park, Oklahoma City,
Horse trail, Stable
1. Introduction
Like most major metropolitan cities,
Oklahoma City was established near a body of
water, in this instance the North Canadian River.
The river has had a major impact on the
development of Oklahoma City from its initial
conception (Figure 1).
1
A summary of graduate project which was prepared by Latif Gürkan
Kaya in 1998 at the University of Oklahoma, College of Architecture,
Division of Landscape Architecture.
1198
Figure 1. Alluvial and Terrace Deposits along the North
Canadian River (Source: USGS, 1996)
Many cities have experienced significant
revitalization as direct result of their efforts to
reclaim urban rivers as sites for primary public
assembly and recreation. Projects such as the
River-walk in San Antonio, was built during the
depression of the 1930s, is not really that big-if
you were not pausing you could walk it all, both
D-shaped, older-part and newer extension, in a
somewhat hurried hour. Originally the river-walk
was a promenade where already set up
institutions: hotels, restaurants, office buildings,
and apartment houses opened their doors onto
the river (SCVB, 1998). Another example of river
walk design is the Housatonic River in Berkshire
County, Massachusetts. It is a “working river”
abused by years of industrial waste and neglect.
It is also a river of great wildlife beauty (GBLC,
1996).
The equestrian park area best suited for
some type of bio-filtration is located based on
natural factors (creeks, river basin, etc.). Defined
retrofit is the opportunity to include water quality
improvement features, such as bio-swales or
wetlands, which are not part of the original site
design or use (Weigand and Martha, 1992).
Those were directed to developing a plan for the
Equestrian Park that may not only be
recreationally based, but also may respect
existing natural-river, creeks, soil, vegetation,
and manmade system-roads, buildings, etc. In
the report of project begins the task of matching
the capabilities of the Equestrian area with the
present and future needs of Oklahoma City.
The Equestrian Park has closely designed
with the North Canadian River Development
Project and has been considered to design four
categories of goals, which are recreational,
environmental, social and economic. The list of
goals that follows can be considered an outline of
the intended result of an implementation of the
design of Equestrian Park.
Followings are explanation of recreational goals
and objectives:
A. Improve recreational resources in the
Equestrian Park area.
a. Passive Recreation:
 Improve the visual recreational
experience that occurs during the
equestrian activities in the area.
 Encourage nature-based and non-
consumptive recreation.
 Encourage the relations between human
and animals.
 Develop the river and pond corridor to
encourage the environmental education
and interpretive activities.
 Considered at least one mile of horse
trail system.
b. Active Recreation:
 Expand equestrian facilities such as
rodeo, showing, riding horse,
hunter/jumper course, etc.
 Provide trail-based recreational
opportunities for horseback riders, hikers
and joggers.
 Provide other recreational activities such
as picnicking, walking, water features,
etc.
 Provide at least one hunter/jumper
course.
B. Improve physical and visual access to the
park area.
 Provide right of public access that
functions as part of the Equestrian Park.
How access between the park and the
adjacent property are accommodated
and/or controlled are discussed along with
any horse and pedestrian trails or linkage
systems that are to be submitted.
 Link the park to nearby activity generators,
including the existing and the future parks
that may be set up.
 Parking sufficient to service to service all
facilities with minimum parking required by
the applicable city regulations, and with
heavily landscaped and grassed islands
consistent with the quality of the
Equestrian center theme.
C. Accommodate special recreational needs
that may involve outdoor bazaar/fair area,
special horse riding activities such as the
therapeutic equestrian programs that have
proven to be very effective in rehabilitating all
types of disabilities, from repairing
1199
neurological damage to building confidence
and self-esteem.
D. One outdoor arena with grandstand seating
overlooking the river and trails, with seating
capacity of 1,000 and with an adequate
concessions and comfort facilities.
E. Rental and boarding stables containing not
less than 30 separate covered stalls.
F. First quality food, beverage, and
entertainment facilities, including but not
limited to, at least one restaurant and club in
addition to any such facilities in a hotel, the
total square footage attributed to say facilities
should involve 7,500-25,000 square feet.
G. A horse conditioning facility containing at
least two round pens and two horse walkers.
2. Methods
The facilities of the Equestrian Park are
designed specifically for the people in the horse
industry and for those who like activities
surrounding the equestrian life. The followings
are considered in the methods:
 Develop the equestrian park as a commercial
and recreational equestrian center.
 Build a horse show arena which will consist
of 1,000 seats and open-air parking lots for
at least 300 vehicles.
 Plan includes the rental and boarding
stables, an operation stables, a recreational
vehicle parking for trailers, and a
hunter/jumper course. Stabling and lodging
facilities for horses and equine owners,
trainers, exhibitors and handlers.
 A retail/office/western style multi-purpose
complex will include craft and specialty
shops, restaurant and offices.
 Over 1 mile of horse trails and
walking/jogging trails. The trails also allow
horse access to the other nearby parks as
they are developed.
 An information and equestrian center office
having a minimum 1,500 square feet.
 A minimum of three separate covered picnic
areas.
 Appropriate landscaping and outdoor
lighting.
 Support facilities including, but not limited to,
barns, sheds, housing, hay storage, feed,
storage facilities, and pastures.
The case area has been evaluated according
to recreation criteria of Simonds (1983) (Table 1).
 The design of the Equestrian Park is not an 4. Pasture 16. Picnic facilities
5. Hay storage 17. Fair
actual project that was only considered 6. Holding corral facilities/Outdoor
redevelopment or a conceptual design for the 7. Food, beverage, and bazaar (no heavy
final project. The design process is a constructed environmental facilities’ area constructions;
series of logical decisions made by range of (restaurants, clubs, hotel, event tents, and
shopping, etc.) etc. possible)
users and me alike at pre-determined intervals. 8. Hunter/jumper course 18. Open space
The system of checks and balances build into the 9. Trailer parking 19. Pond and Water
process assures an acceptable solution to the 10. Horse trail features
users. 20. Bio-filtration

Table 1. The Existing Conditions of Equestrian Park Table 2 illustrates connections among the
Area (Adapted from Simonds, 1983) program elements. If the connection is good , the
CRITERIA GOOD AVERAGE POOR value is “+”; if not it is “-”. “0” is neutral that
REGIONAL
means limited connection and/or no connection
Climate x
at all.
Table 2. Matrix of Program Elements
Soil x
Water supply and quality x
Economy x
Transportation x
Energy x
Landscape character x
Cultural opportunities x
Recreational opportunities x
Health care facilities x
COMMUNITY
Time distance work, shopping, x
etc.
School x
Shopping x
Cultural opportunities (library, x
etc.)
Public services (fire, police, etc.) x
Medical facilities x
NEIGHBORHOOD
Landscape character x
Life style x
Traffic-ways (access, hazard, x
4. Conclusions and Recommendation
etc.)
Parks, recreation, open space, x In the study, due to the results, four design
etc.
Exposure(sun, wind, flooding, x alternatives have been developed:
etc.)
Utilities x  Design Alternative-1 is considered 3 different
PROPERTY pieces that are show ring; stable complex and
Size and shape x multi-purpose are with hunter/jumper course.
Safe entrance x This alternative is the final decision because
Existing plant materials x of its suitability in the area. First of all show
Ground forms and gradients x ring is supposed to distance from highway
Site drainage x system because of noises; however, it is good
Neighbors x for the access. Secondly, stable complex is in
Relationship to circulation
x
the middle of the area because of the huge
patterns
area for the pasture, trailer and car parking
and trails, and most important reason is bio
3. Results filtration systems with ponds that are really fits
The necessary program elements for the in this part. Third part is multi-purpose area
Equestrian Park in Oklahoma City were that is close the highway because of the easy
determined as follows: access for clubs and hotels.
 Design Alternative-2 is thought again three
1. Outdoor arena-show ring 11. Information center
(seating capacity 1,000) 12. Parking lots pieces. However this one involves stable
2. Judges shelter 13. Entry gates complex that is located nearby Portland
3. Stable buildings(rental, 14. Restrooms Avenue with the bio-filtration and pond
operation and boarding) 15. Walkway

1200
 systems because of the easy access from
th
Portland and SW 15 Street. Although this
alternative does not closely fit in the area
because stable complex needs much more
spaces than the considered area. Show ring
is especially really suitable in center because
of the enough parking spaces and trail
systems. Third piece is considered same as
first alternative.
 Design Alternative-3 looks like first design
alternative; however, it involves some
differences that in the center stable complex
is approached pond because of the bio-
filtration systems and enough parking spaces.
This alternative is not good for show ring
complex because people will need close
parking lots nearby there. This alternative
also does not include hunter/jumper course.
This area was considered equine trail
systems and multi-purpose area.
 Design Alternative-4 includes stable complex
that is approached pond because of the bio-
filtration systems and enough parking spaces.
This alternative is not good for show ring
complex because people will need close
parking lots nearby there. This area was
considered equine trail systems and multi-
purpose area. The alternative has a
temporarily hunter/jumper course that allows
seasonal use because users can need extra
open space for some type of activities.
Above mentioned alternatives have been
mixed up and created an appropriate proposal
master plan for an equestrian park (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Proposal Equestrian Park Design for the Oklahoma
City, OK
1201
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5. References
Gallagher, T., The lower Housatonic River
guide from Lake Zoar to Long Island Sound,
http://www.connix.com/~hypercog/river/River.htm
1997.
GBLC, Housatonic river walk, riverbank clean-
up, Great Barrington Land Conservancy
Barrington, MA. http://www.gbriverwalk.org,
1996.
Gralla, S. Design of a Major Equestrian
development as a part of the “String of Pearls”
Parks in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Gralla
Architects, Planners, Consultants, Oklahoma
City, OK, 1989.
Kaya, L.G., Equestrian park design,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Graduate Project.
University of Oklahoma, College of Architecture,
Division of Landscape Architecture. Norman,
Oklahoma. Thesis/dissertation/manuscript iv, 33
leaves : p., maps, plans ;, 28 cm. 1998.
SCVB, San Antonio’s River Walk, the San
Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau, a
Department of the City of San Antonio, is funded
through a hotel/motel occupancy tax.
http://sanantoniocvb.com/PRRiv.htm, 1998.
Simonds, J. O. Landscape Architecture, a
manual of site planning and design. McGraw-Hill
Book Inc. USA,1983
USGS, Alluvial and terrace deposits along the
North Canadian River in East-central Oklahoma,
US Geological Survey Open-File report 96-448,
http://water.usgs.gov/public/pubs/ofr/ofr96-
448/index.html, 1996.
Weigand, L. and Martha, K., The retrofit
suitability model for the Dogfish Creek sub-basin
of Liberty Bay. University of Washington, Seattle,
WA., 1992.