The Maryland Department of Agriculture\’s Maryland Horse Industry Board has recommended the creation of a horse park to the Maryland Stadium Authority, and now officials there have said they will conduct a feasibility study.

“We\’ve been working on this since 1998,” said J. Robert Burk, executive director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board. He said a horse parkt was one of the board\’s primary visions when it was formed that year.

As the first step of the feasibility study, Maryland Stadium Authority officials have issued a Request for Nomination of Real Property. They\’re looking for property that is at least 500 acres (ideally between 800 and 1,200 acres) with access to a major highway. The property will be used for steeplechase, eventing, endurance riding, dressage, show jumping and other equestrian sports. The park may also feature a museum, a campground and other tourist attractions.

They\’ll accept bids until June 30 at 2 p.m. The selection panel may also request oral presentations from nominating jurisdictions. “By the end of the summer, we should have a decision on a potential venue,” Burk said.

Burk said he knows of three locations that will submit bids, in Havre de Grace, Fair Hill and Annapolis. The selection committee will consider all locations that are submitted.

Alison Asti, executive director for the Maryland Stadium Authority, said that once a site is selected, the group will conduct an economic-impact study and present its findings to the legislature.

“We\’ve lost out in many cases being able to host some of these national competitions to horse parks around the country,” said Burk.

Officials with the Stadium Authority will also determine the cost after a site is selected. Asti said the horse park would most likely be funded through a combination of local and state dollars. She said the feasibility study would likely be completed by fall, at which time they\’ll introduce a bill to the legislature. It could be next summer before the bill is approved.