County Commission Finance Chairman Tim Boyd on Wednesday said he could not go along with a $690,000 expense for horse trails at the county's Enterprise South Nature Park, saying other needs were more pressing.
However, other members of the panel - Sabrena Smedley, Randy Fairbanks and Warren Mackey - recommended approval. It will be voted on by the full commission next Wednesday.
Commissioners Smedley and Fairbanks said the project should proceed since the commission had earlier voted to apply for a $460,000 Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant. The city and county will be required to match the grant at $115,000 each.
Commissioner Fairbanks said he might not have been in favor of seeking the grant, but he said since it was sought "it would not be right to say 'no, nevermind."
County Mayor Jim Coppinger said over 400 people from 13 counties turned out for an informational meeting about the horse trails on a 683-acre section of the large nature park. He said there was widespread support for it. He said it would be the first public horse trails in Hamilton County.
The county mayor said over 150,000 people per year are visiting the park, which he said was far more than he expected.
Commissioner Boyd said an Outdoor Chattanooga publication stated there are abundant local horse trails available.
He said he spoke to a horse association leader and dealer in his district who was not in favor of the expenditure.
Officials said of the project, "Riders will enjoy 10 miles of trails, ample parking and waterless restrooms."
Some of the money will go for a paved parking area as well as the restrooms and construction of the trails.