By Eliza Ridgeway

In the last two months Los Altos Hills’ town horse facilities have been targeted for an infusion of money and development. In November the city council directed staff to apply for $50,000 of state park bond grant money to refurbish the town riding ring on Purissima Road.

Last year, the council had been discussing demolishing the ring in favor of a charter school site or a sports facility. The ring’s reprieve is due in part to increased activism from the Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association, which oversees the ring.

“We’ve seen a real revival of horsemanship activity in the community,” said association president Lori Askew. The group has increased public programming, adding a summer children’s horsemanship camp, a painted pony party and a Halloween party to the facility’s activities.

“Where do other non-horse activities fit in with spending both at Westwind Barn and here?” Councilman Craig Jones asked. The proposed third arena at Westwind - projected to cost $100,000 - is also expected to use part of the $320,000 available from the state. The parks and recreation committee voted in October to recommend using the town general fund for ring renovations in lieu of grant money. However, the grant expires in 2008, and no non-equine proposals have been forwarded.

Parks and recreation co-chairwoman Valerie Metcalf said the committee was looking for alternate sports venues, such as soccer field access at St. Nicholas School or Foothill College.

“We need to look at what already exists and try to get access to that,” she said. The scarcity of appropriate town-owned land has stymied development of sports facilities.

Bob Garcia, a general contractor also working on the Olympic horse park in Monterey, drafted the Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association’s renovation proposal. The native soil and wood chips currently filling the ring would be hauled away, and 6 inches of sealed base rock would be installed in the ring, covered by 2 inches of sand and rubber footing.

The proposal also includes a 12-inch wooden perimeter for the ring and a reconfigured drainage system.

Councilmen Jones and Jean Mordo and Mayor Breene Kerr expressed interest in expanded facilities at the ring, particularly a bathroom.

City staff are preparing a cost estimate, but it may equal or exceed the price tag for ring renovations.