DETROIT, MICH., October 21, 2024 — Shovels broke ground today in northwest Detroit on what will be the largest urban equestrian center in the U.S. once completed. Detroit Horse Power, a nonprofit organization focused on utilizing the power of horses to instill critical social-emotional skills within Detroit’s youth ages 11-18, is one step closer to seeing its vision come to life.

The 14-acre site, located at Fenkell and Linwood, will be home to Detroit Horse Power’s new 26,395-square-foot center serving youth in Detroit through classes, after-school programs and summer camps. Amenities will include:

• Stables to accommodate up to 17 horses
• A 75’x160’ indoor riding arena
• Outdoor riding spaces including a 100’x200’ outdoor arena and a half-mile bridle path
• 7 acres of paddocks for the horses to graze
• 10,000 square feet of conditioned space for youth program classrooms, nonprofit offices, and community gathering space
• High-performance building thermal envelope to greatly reduce its energy demands, which will be met with renewable solar and geothermal energy production resulting in a net-zero capable building

Currently serving approximately 100 youth each year at partner stables across the region, the new equestrian center is expected to offer services to more than 1,000 students right here in Detroit once it opens in 2026. To ensure an 18-month financial runway that will enable Detroit Horse Power to embark on new and extended programming from Day One of operation, a $2 million “Stable Future Fund” has been inaugurated. Supporters can choose recognition in the facility’s Hall of Champions or join the DHP Legacy Society with tax-deductible gifts that expand access to the power of horses in Detroit’s future.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of how the City of Detroit and residents in the surrounding neighborhood have embraced our organization and our plans for the revitalization of this property,” said David Silver, Detroit Horse Power founder and Executive Director. “It is incredibly rewarding to be closer than ever to the organization’s ultimate vision and providing a future that kids and our community deserve.”

Said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan: “Detroit Horse Power has shown that by partnering with the community, neighborhoods all across our city can grow stronger and offer the quality of life that all Detroiters deserve. Detroit is building a future that will be the envy of cities across the nation.”

The center will be built on the former site of the Paul Robeson School, which was demolished in 2012 after a fire destroyed the building in 2011. The site was purchased by Detroit Horse Power in 2024 after years of engagement and planning with local government officials and the Hope Village neighborhood.

"At Detroit Public Schools Community District, we are committed to nurturing the whole child and providing students with enriching opportunities for growth," said Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, DPSCD. "The introduction of after-school horseback riding through Detroit Horse Power not only offers students a chance to learn new skills but also fosters essential social-emotional development by working closely with animals. This unique program empowers our students to thrive both academically and personally, paving the way for greater success in school and in life."

“As someone who has loved horses and horseback riding all his life, The Detroit Horse Power Urban Equestrian Center is something that gets me excited because I know it will provide so many young people here in the city with the same thrill that I experienced as a kid growing up,” said Warren C. Evans, Wayne County Executive. “That may have need awhile ago, but the joy and wonder that happens as a youngster when you first establish that connection with a horse is something special that is as real today as it ever was.”

Detroit Horse Power was founded in 2015, partnering with horse facilities outside the city, quite often located more than an hour away. By combining classroom-based lessons with opportunities to ride and care for horses, its programs aim to instill valuable PERCS skills – Perseverance, Empathy, Responsible risk-taking, Confidence, and Self-control – to help prepare students to become successful adults, emphasizing social-emotional learning that supports positive academic and life outcomes.

The organization has received commitments totaling $8 million with leading support from the State of Michigan, Wayne County, and the Kresge Foundation, among others.

McIntosh Poris Architects are the architects on this project, with L.S. Brinker selected as the construction manager. All have worked closely with Wick Buildings, which specializes in equestrian structures. Ethos Development Partners and Proxy have been invaluable consultants guiding Detroit Horse Power through this process.

For more information, visit www.detroithorsepower.org.

For more on the Stable Future Fund: https://www.detroithorsepower.org/stable-future-fund

Project Renderings here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/g2edrseigcgjklwnky58v/AHO22FUuHFNlXBRd9DorHMs?rlkey=h1f2u76qjhbtteeociuzhd9kv&e=1&st=vtfjth7t&dl=0