NOVA and Western Maryland People: there’s a new community arena opening in April!

[StormyDay]

The Lovettsville Community center is opening in early April and they have installed a brand new riding arena. I just drove past it today and it looks absolutely beautiful. It’s fenced, has good looking footing, it’s huge, and it’s far away from all the other sports stuff! I’m very excited to ride in it once it opens. I don’t know if there will be a fee to use, but I’d assume it will either be free or very cheap.

Here’s the overview photo that got posted to the website. I actually thought it was a rendering, but it really is that pretty.

[mdp9]

I live in Lovettsville and am interested to check this out!

Do you know about the trails in the park? I don’t have a need to trailer out to an arena, but would love more options for conditioning or even just walking trail rides.

I thought I heard that there was no fee to use the park.

[StormyDay]

@mdp9

I live in Lovettsville and am interested to check this out!

Do you know about the trails in the park? I don’t have a need to trailer out to an arena, but would love more options for conditioning or even just walking trail rides.

I thought I heard that there was no fee to use the park.

I don’t know much about them yet, just that there will be some. I don’t know how much there will truly be; the whole park is only 90 acres. But when I go I’m going to see if they have a printout of their trail system yet; I have a feeling it might connect to some of the surrounding neighborhoods allowing for a longer ride.

I don’t know if you’ve gone to Franklin Park, but I like their trail for in the summer as it’s nicely shaded.
The only thing we are missing in this area is a large trail system park that is free to use and is designed for equestrians, hikers, etc. Maybe when I become a billionaire I’ll donate 500 acres to that

Also, I found more info on the arena. It’s 250’x350, with Pinnacle Footing and it’s free to use. I have a home arena but it’s so nice to be able to trailer out to get experience on the young ones, and this sounds absolutely fabulous!

[mdp9]

I went to the new park this weekend! The arena is huge and very nice. Fenced in and a little apart from the ball fields. There is a big parking lot with places to turn around. There are real bathrooms and a wash rack with a hose.

I was hoping for some good ride out. There was a loop around the perimeter which was okay. But it was mulched kind of deep? I would have preferred just grass.

Over all nice place! Just not somewhere I’d go to just ride out.

[StormyDay]

I went over and had a look but didn’t get to ride yet.
I’m not super surprised about the trails; the park is just not very big. I’d recommend Franklin park or Woodstock. Woodstock has a ton of trails.

[mdp9]

I go to Woodstock frequently! Love it there. Lovettsville is just closer so I was hoping for some more hacking out options. I haven’t been to Franklin Park in a decade; I should check it out again.