Bowie Race Track Collaboration Underway

City and university stakeholders met on a rainy Saturday morning to share ideas on the Bowie Race Track property.

City of Bowie residents, staff, and HOA leaders gathered at the Bowie State University Student Center with BSU students, faculty, and administration. Local equestrian stakeholders, county park officials, and ROTC leaders also participated.

A short presentation on the recent history of the race track was led by City Planning Director, Joe Meinert. After, attendees were invited to lay out ideas for recreation, preservation, and equestrian activities along the 150 acre site straddling Race Track Road.

In blended small groups, participants placed jigsaw pieces representing possible amenities on large scale maps of the property. The groups then reconvened to share their maps, exchange questions, discuss practical limitations, and broke out again to refine their suggestions.

Following the small group collaborations and large group exchanges, attendees began ranking overall preferences for several dozen amenity ideas. The amenity suggestions follow a large city survey, which remains open to the public through December 20.

2,100 participants, mostly Bowie residents, have completed the survey so far. Work group leaders expressed delight at the strong public interest.

The Bowie Race Track Task Force will convene to discuss the survey results and work group session as they continue work on their report due to the City Council next July. Future public input sessions will continue through that deadline.

Council Member Michael Estève attended the work session and mingled with residents, stakeholders, and university officials talking through different ideas. The councilman held a meeting earlier this week with a horse therapy non-profit as a part of a fact-finding effort to bring horse-related community amenities to the property.

"The university, city, and residents have worked really well together on joint use ideas. From the significant survey feedback and group discussion today, it's clear there's a lot of overlap. Folks want to see natural preservation, public park and recreation, and showcase the property's equestrian legacy."

The councilman added, "There's room to do all of the above and have a great deal of natural space to spare."

The Bowie Race Track property, once home to regional horse racing, then horse stabling and training, has in recent years sat vacant, an unused holding of the Maryland Jockey Club.

The property is scheduled to be conveyed to the City of Bowie as a part of a larger deal between the State of Maryland and the Jockey Club. Under the agreement, the city will control the property and share public amenities with Bowie State University.

Limitations on the property's use prevent development beyond a single, 50,000 square foot public facility, intended for recreational or educational purposes. Otherwise, any number of outdoor public recreation or educational purposes are allowed.

The public is invited to continue to share thoughts on the property through the city survey, available here through December 20. More information on the race track property and ongoing discussions can be found here.