From Harford County government:
Harford County Department of Parks and Recreation has teamed up with Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding to create a permanent home for the Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding Program. A Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on Thursday at Oakington Farms in Havre de Grace followed by a reception at Swan Harbor Farm in Havre de Grace.
“This is a wonderful partnership to help serve the citizens of Harford County. Teaming up with Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding will make a big difference in the county,” said Harford County Executive David R. Craig.
Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding, Incorporated is dedicated to providing a fun and unique healing experience for individuals and groups. CTR’s riders and families find hope, growth and compassion through the kindness of benefactors, volunteers and horses. CTR and Parks and Recreation want to provide the best encounter in a healing and loving environment.
“Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding at Oakington will have the capacity to serve more vulnerable people in our community. We will have the facilities to expand and implement new ideas. Thank you Harford County for investing in the health and well-being of people with special needs, disadvantaged youth and the elderly,” said Cathy Schmidt, Executive Director for Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding.
The new home will better serve the community as the only year round therapeutic riding organization serving children and adults with special needs, disadvantaged or at-risk youth and the elderly in Harford County. CTR has raised $75,000, half of the $150,000, which County Executive Craig challenged them to raise for the project. The county has moved forward with Phase 1 of the project with this contribution in hand. The cost of $420,000 for this phase includes: the design, demolition of dilapidated structures, construction of driveways and parking areas and the creation of future pasturelands.
Currently, CTR resides in Fallston. The permanent facility will be located at Oakington Farms in Havre de Grace.
So now the county is helping out private business to the tone of 420,000 and 75,000. Gotta love these election years. It helps people with physical needs, but so does DSS and other agencies. Why is the county investing in a expensive endeavor because dealing with horses cost money. Oh that’s right…it’s election year and it’s in Havre de Grace. Hmmmmm who is running for governor from Havre de Grace?
It’s 420k and 75k for phase1. What about the other phases? Craig seems to have found money in the couch for his wife’s project.
HCG doesn’t fund DSS, the agency is part of the State government, not funded through HCG. In addition, the county does not spend $$$ for social services directly, only by way of MD and Federal grants. Community services administers some CDGB and Home funds from Congress, consider that part of what Harford County taxpayers pay in federal taxes.
Taxpayer, Really? Its a good program, widely used by members of the community, and is a good private public partnership to extend accessibility to these charitable services to our broader community. Also, this project was years in the making, so calling it an election ploy is just plain wrong and disingenuous. Also, the money used for this project comes from dedicated funds that are used for parks and projects such as this, so to say that same money could go to other things for social services is not the case. This is a celebration for our community. Stop being so cynical. You need to appreciate more the community in which you live.
Government and public partnerships are a good thing provided that both parties are funding in a proportionate way and there is a needed public good being produced. No problem with the project, but the county doesn’t even have funds to pay for wage increases but yet have funds to pay for a pet project in which the wife of the CE is on the board? I find it a bit shocking that the council hasn’t reduced or demanded some transparency on this particular expense.
having worked for p&r i know the only reason this happen is because of the political connection between the owners of the equestrian program and craig’s wife. they were renting a farm off Rt 161 but why rent when the county tax payer, thanks to craig, would pay to develop a facility for you on county property? we should all be so lucky right!
Paul Yanney, non-profit and charitable organizations like the therapeutic riding program don’t have “owners.” Not sure why you’re so disgruntled in your cushy taxpayer-funded retirement, but you should know better. We should all be so lucky, indeed.
Goggle it – Craig’s wife is on the board. This and all other public private partnerships are almost always ripe with cronyism. Why should the taxpayers make very expensive.improvements to a private farm? Who pays us back when Craig’s buddies.want condos there?
Why didn’t the county do this on one of the farms they already own and do nothing with, Like the old Preston farm just north of Jarrettsville on 23? Jerry kept the place nice, pastures were fine for cows buildings in great shape, has a lovely pond and a very nice home. And it’s centrally located in the county not in haverdisgrace the drug capitol of the county, or is that their target patient for rehab?
Melinda wants it in HdG – cost and ease in distance and access weren’t on the radar.
BillH, Why are you asking us, random donkeys on the internet, your questions of Budget, and Planning concerns in regards to a County?
http://www.harfordcountymd.gov
Plenty of email addresses, and phone numbers that are easy to gawk at with your own eyes to ask your questions too.
Craig can also have county employees put them into his book he ‘s having them put together for his wife’s ego before he exits which can’t come soon enough.
Oh lord. More of my “tax” dollars? Nothing against helping others, but my god! When does it stop? ANYTIME the government has to help financially, it was doomed from the start and will continue ONLY WITH tax payers dollars. Folks, I’m to dam old to work F/T and P/T.
From each according to his ability…
Come Comrade, surely you can sacrifice more for Mother Maryland.