It’s been a long time coming… 37 years to be exact… but the time has come to update and repair the Shenandoah Riding Center (SRC). Over the past year the GTA has been working on repairs and replacements at the Marina and Thunder Bay Falls Park, expanding our trail system, not to mention all the work being done on the new Pool/Recreation Complex. Our aging amenities are getting a face lift, and it’s now the Riding Center’s turn.

    Did you know that the Riding Center was the first amenity within The Galena Territory, built 37 years ago? It’s actually two years older than our outdoor pool. As with all GTA amenities, our bylaws state that our Association was created to maintain them. And for a refresher course, our amenities include Lake Galena and the Marina complex, our Greenspace and trail system, The Owners’ Club complex and the Shenandoah Riding Center.

    Plans are currently underway to repair and replace parts of the SRC this year. The dollars ($346,000) have already been budgeted within our Major Repairs and Replacements reserve fund to get the work completed before winter. As with most construction projects, the type of work that is planned must be done during good weather, and we’re working with Justin Leahy who operates the Riding Center on the GTA’s behalf to develop the best construction schedule for all involved.

    So what exactly are we doing, you might ask? The planned work will include the following:

• Replacing the exterior tin roof and side walls on the indoor horse arena to be within the color requirements of our Architectural Review guidelines
• Adding a new trail horse facility that will protect the trail horses from inclement weather
• Replacing the fence surrounding the outdoor arena
• Deconstructing the back stable building
• Adding new signage and replacing existing signage
  On the north side of the front stable building we will be:
• Replacing the horse feed storage area
• Replacing the boarders’ tack room
• Replacing the horse-grooming location to include a wash bay for horses

    There will also be a drainage plan completed to facilitate proper water runoff of the complex and underground water/electrical lines will be replaced were needed.  As with any construction project of this magnitude, disruptions will occur and we hope that all property owners will be patient with our progress. But it should be well worth the effort. In the end, the Shenandoah Riding Center will be set up to meet the diversified needs of the future.

    Speaking of the future, the Long Range Planning Committee has established a master planning subcommittee for the SRC consisting of myself and Joe Mattingley. Our plan is to come back with a long-term vision for the facility. Over the next few months, Joe and I will be gathering information and establishing a plan for the complex utilizing inputs from the Long Range Planning Committee and property owners (including the current operators).

    Throughout the next phase of our planning process, we will keep two key objectives top of mind: making sure the concepts are affordable, and making sure the amenity provides a positive culture of fun for our current property owners and their guests, as well as those in the future.

    All together, what I’ve described here will be a great improvement to this amenity that has been a long-time coming. I am proud to be a part of the planning team and hope the amenity continues to bring pleasure to property owners for another 37 years. 

for better viewing, Download Elevation Plans in PDF format.