Horses could soon be back on track at park

Joyce Langerak - Penticton Western News Published: March 12, 2009

Osoyoos Desert Park is on track to become the Stanley Park of the South Okanagan, says Eike Scheffler, a founder of the Southern Interior Recreational Equestrian Corp. The Town of Osoyoos has signed a memorandum of understanding with the group to allow it to immediately begin upgrading the 40-acre park for a variety of planned usages for the spring and summer. Within a few weeks, a short-term lease for up to six months will be issued to SIREC which allows for use of the racetrack, the horse barns, the RV site and the grounds. However, it does not include the grandstand or recreational buildings. Over the past 15 years, most of Desert Park has not been used and horse training has not been permitted there for three years. “We’ve got the key; we’re just waiting for this weather to improve,” said Scheffler. “We’ve got a plan of what we’re going to repair.” Osoyoos residents and businesses are strongly supportive of the group’s plans. “We’ve got an office building coming. All we have to do is pay for the moving,” said Scheffler. Other local companies have donated lots of paint, fencing and hardware. All the work will be volunteer, he said. “Our long-term plan will be to get a 15-year lease with the town, the same as the golf course has. At the moment all we’re doing is making it functional and making it look nice.” Hopefully, next week, horses will be at the track, he said. “As soon as the weather clears, we’ve got horses coming out of southern Washington, Alberta and all over. We hope to have about 40 to 50 this year.”

The Olympic-sized arena could be used for a theatre, for music festivals, 4H show, horse sales and shows and dog shows. “It’s a perfect time to do it because the area needs something for the shoulder season,” said Scheffler. “In spring and fall, we need to hold people here with something to do. We’re planning a spring fair with crafts, a farm fair with events; this fall, if we get enough horses we’ll have a Wine Cup Racing Day.” Both the Osoyoos Indian Band and the Lower Similkameen Indian Band have been supporting the group. Scheffler. plans to talk to every group from Oroville, Wash. including chambers of commerce and Rotary clubs that want to hear SIREC’s plan. “That facility is too important, has too much historic value,” he said. “It can be a recreational focus for the whole South Okanagan. It’s all coming. It’ll all come together.”