Written By David Gomez, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
STRATHROY-CARADOC - At the September 3 council meeting, a report was presented recommending the removal of horse paddocks at the Fair Grounds Recreation Complex. The paddocks, which had been in place since the complex’s establishment in 2014, have remained idle since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The issue of what to do with these unused facilities, and the materials that compose them, sparked a discussion among councillors.
The horse paddocks were previously used by the Red Valley Saddle Club, which held horse shows at the complex during the spring, summer, and fall. However, the club has since dissolved, and no other groups have expressed interest in using the facilities. Director of Community Services Robert Lilbourne presented the staff report, stating, “Since the pandemic, there’s been zero activity on them.” He also highlighted a recent request from the Melbourne Agricultural Society to repurpose the materials from the paddocks for their own grounds. The society, in partnership with the Midwestern Horse Club, hopes to improve their horse ring facilities.
The discussion also touched on the possibility of shifting some community events from Strathroy to Melbourne. Councillor Steve Pelkman suggested that supporting the Melbourne Agricultural Society could lead to the relocation of some events to Melbourne’s fairgrounds. “I think it would be wise of us, not only to start planning for what we can do with this piece of property, but also to support Melbourne at the same time,” Pelkman noted. He emphasized the facilities available in Melbourne, including the Legion, which could help host events.
Councillor Brian Derbyshire expressed concerns about the challenges of removing the paddock materials, particularly the risk of damage during the process. He questioned whether it would be better for the group to handle the removal themselves to ensure the materials remained intact. In response, Lilbourne explained that the paddock is made of strapping rather than wooden boards, which would simplify the removal. He added that the municipality would collaborate with the Midwestern Horse Club and assess whether the posts should also be removed, depending on their condition after years of inactivity.
Ultimately, a motion to approve the removal of the horse paddocks and the donation of the materials to the Melbourne Agricultural Society was moved by Councillor Hipple and seconded by Deputy Mayor McGuire. The motion passed unanimously.
The removal of the paddocks opens up new possibilities for the Fair Grounds Recreation Complex. According to the report, the space could be repurposed for a range of community activities, including expansions for annual events such as the Annual Ribfest.
