Howard County (Map, News) - Five sites in Howard County would make good locations for the Maryland Horse Park, but more work needs to be done to contact and negotiate with these property owners, according to a county group reviewing the feasibility of a horse park.

“There’s plenty of reason to continue the process and see what can be done,” said Mike Erskine, chairman of the county’s Horse Park Task Force, which stopped short in its final report of recommending a specific site for a state park.

Plans for a state park, which would include a visitor center, museum, indoor showroom and at least 850 stables, have been in the works for nearly a decade as a way to centralize and promote the state’s equine industry.

Harford County has also shown interest in courting the state park.

The Howard sites identified in the group’s final report include:

• A 925-acre property owned by the University of Maryland Central Research and Education Center in Clarksville.
• 900 acres in Ellicott City owned by an unidentified resident.
• Benson Branch Park, a 333-acre undeveloped property in Ellicott City.
• The Howard County Fairgrounds and nearby West Friendship Park, which together total 430 acres.
• The 85-acre Belmont estate, located next to Patapsco State Park.

The county should form a site selection committee that has the authority to negotiate with property owners to select a site before conducting a formal feasibility study, the task force said.

“Property owners may not fully comprehend the low-impact nature of a horse park and the benefits that would flow to the owners,” the report states.

County Councilman Greg Fox, R-District 5, who pushed the legislation forming the task force, said the council hasn’t had a chance to review the final report and will revisit the issue after the budget is passed later this month.

smichael@baltimoreexaminer.com