Horse Stables To Reopen At Lord Stirling Park, Facilities To Expand

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Horse stables will reopen and facilities will be expanded under the Somerset County Board of Commissioners' new vision for the future of Lord Stirling Park in Basking Ridge.

"What began as the rebranding of the Lord Stirling Stable has evolved into a new vision for the entire Lord Stirling Park that includes equestrian, natural, and historic experiences," said Tom Boccino, Somerset County’s Supervising Planner, Preservation. "The plan outlines conceptually how all uses can be integrated into a single experience that highlights the valuable assets that exist in Somerset County – one park, many paths."

The vision was created by the Park Commission’s Lord Stirling Stable Advisory Group (LSSAG) and County planning professionals.

The 1,015-acre Lord Stirling Park consists of parkland, natural waterways and open space along with a Stable, the Environmental Education Center, and the Revolutionary War-era Boudinot Southard Farmstead.

Previously these have all been operated independently of each other, and the new vision proposes to connect them with expanded trails and paths, integrated programming, and newly developed community event spaces along Lord Stirling Road and at the Boudinot Southard Farmstead.

"Lord Stirling Park is a great, untapped resource for Somerset County residents and visitors, and I am extremely pleased with the work of the Park Commission, its expert advisory group, and the County Planning staff for putting together this vision for its future," said Commissioner Paul Drake, liaison to the Park Commission. "The integration of equestrian, environmental, historic, and event spaces at Lord Stirling Park is vital to ensuring that Somerset County truly delivers the promise of 'parks for all'."

New Vision

The Somerset County Park Commission intends to purchase a number of horses to keep at the Stable at Lord Stirling Park and begin reintroducing equestrian programming beginning this Fall.

Currently the Stable offers pony rides for children, and before the end of the year plans to provide lead-line rides for beginners and limited trail riding for more experienced patrons.

Additionally, the County is proposing to expand its trail network to connect to the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Bernards Township’s Southard Park, and local Basking Ridge residential neighborhoods. This connection would be in-line with Somerset County’s Walk, Bike,Hike: Connecting Vibrant Communities Plan.

Conception

The new vision, created by Park Commission’s Lord Stirling Stable Advisory Group (LSSAG) and County planning professionals, grew out of an advisory group that started in the spring of 2021 to consider the future of the Stable following its cessation of programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More: Public Input Sought On Future Of Lord Stirling Stable Property

• Related: Investigation Into Lord Stirling Stable Horse Sales Is Closed

"For all of us at the Park Commission this was a mission to have a sustainable, viable future for Lord Stirling Park," said Somerset County Park Commission President D.J. Hunsinger. "These plans not only include the functioning and self-sustaining stable feature, but going forward will grow the park into a larger, more encompassing resource that maintains the nature and the personality that residents and park patrons love."

The Somerset County Commissioners unanimously supported the reopening of the Stable at Lord Stirling Park this fall and will work with the Park Commission on implementing future expansion and recreation of Lord Stirling Park as a “park for all”.

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