The new William Simmons Memorial Park on Otter Point Road will be a welcome recreational area for walkers, cyclists, and picnickers. Thanks to the foresight of CRD Parks and the work of local volunteers, it will also be a great place to take your horse.
The Sooke Saddle Club obtained funding from Equine Canada/Horse Council British Columbia to set up a Riders’ Rest Area in the park. With contributions in labour and materials from local businesses Badger Consulting, S Turning Sheet Metal, and Grassroots Construction, Saddle Club members were able to construct a picnic table, hitching post, and manure bin in a grassy meadow not far from the main picnic site in the park. The project also provided funding for safe-crossing signs for Otter Point Road.
The parking lot for the park includes spaces for horse trailers, giving riders from all over the region access to the park and the network of trails planned for the area. Including horses in a multi-use recreational area requires planning and an understanding of how trails can be shared. The new facilities in William Simmons Memorial Park are an excellent example of how to do it right.