On Wednesday, the Potomac Horse Center (PHC) at 14211 Quince Orchard Rd in North Potomac announced it will close on July 22. Later that day, residents put together a petition with hopes to save the center.
The horseback riding center made the announcement Wednesday morning on its social media accounts and shared a letter stating that the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) insisted that the “renewal of the lease was contingent on PHC raising three to five million dollars to improve M-NCPPC’s infrastructure with no assurances that PHC would be permitted to remain on the property.” The full letter can be seen here.
In its first day, a petition created to save the center has garnered over 500 signatures urging the M-NCPPC to renew its lease with the Potomac Horse Center. It can be seen below:
Urge the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to Renew Lease with Potomac Horse Center
As a resident of North Potomac, MD, I have personally experienced the joy and benefits of riding at the Potomac Horse Center. This center is not only a place for horse enthusiasts like me but also serves as a beautiful greenspace that offers camps and pony rides to our local community. Many families and children in our neighborhood have benefited from their services.
The lease agreement between the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and the Potomac Horse Center is due for renewal. The continuation of this lease is vital for preserving this cherished community asset.
We understand that there are many competing interests for land use within our region. However, we believe that renewing this lease will serve both the recreational needs of residents while preserving valuable green space in North Potomac.
Therefore, we urge the M-NCPPC to renew its lease with the Potomac Horse Center so it can continue providing its invaluable services to our community. Please sign this petition if you support keeping horse riding alive in North Potomac!