Expanding the power of horses to strengthen Detroit’s future
Detroit Horse Power is proud of our track record of bringing nearly 1,000 Detroit youth to partner horse barns outside the city for free summer horse camps and after-school programs since 2015. But the geographic and transportation barriers significantly reduce our program’s capacity and our students’ access to horses. Detroit also needs creative solutions that turn the burden of vacant land into a community asset.
Since our earliest days, Detroit Horse Power has been working to reactivate a large vacant parcel within Detroit’s city limits to build an urban equestrian education center that will significantly scale our youth development programs while strengthening the fabric of the neighborhoods our students grow up in.
Rooted in Community History
After years of community conversations, Detroit Horse Power is thrilled to have acquired an ideal property to build our facility in a neighborhood that has embraced horses as a part of the community’s future. The 14-acre site at 2701 Fenkell, Detroit 48238 was built in 1917 as St. Francis Home for Boys. In the 1990s, it was sold to Detroit Public Schools and operated as Paul Robeson Academy. The building was torn down in 2012 after a massive fire.
Detroit Horse Power started engaging in the neighborhood in 2016. Focus: HOPE’s community strategic master plan highlighted the alignment of this proposal with residents’ goals for environmentally-focused land uses, community asset building, and opportunities for young people. Through presenting at town hall convenings, block club meetings, pop up events with horses in the neighborhood, and regular participation in community events, Detroit Horse Power is grateful to have received such strong support from the Hope Village, leading us to purchase the property from Detroit Public Schools Community District.
Unmatched New Facility
The stables we are building will accommodate up to 17 horses, attached to a 75’x160’ indoor riding arena and 10,000 square feet of conditioned space for classrooms, offices, and community gathering. Most of the 14-acre property will be paddock space for ample grazing room for our horses along with a 100’x200’ outdoor riding arena and half-mile bridle path.
Success Through Access
This facility will be the largest urban equestrian center in the entire nation. When complete, it will offer a great quality of life for the horses in Detroit Horse Power’s care and allow the organization to significantly scale the breadth and depth of our proven youth development model, providing the next generation of Detroiters with the skills they need to succeed.
Our Milestones
We are fortunate to have worked closely with McIntosh Poris Architects through this process. Each phase of the plans were brought back to Hope Village residents and our Youth Leadership Council to incorporate their feedback into the design. Lynnman Construction (an installer of Wick Buildings) and LS Brinker have been at the table with us throughout this process to prepare an achievable construction plan. Finally, Ethos Development Partners and Proxy have been guiding Detroit Horse Power through every step.
Purchased the property from Detroit Public Schools Community District
Received site plan approval from the City of Detroit
Received $8M in capital campaign commitments
We are thrilled to be holding a ground-breaking ceremony on October 21, 2024 as we prepare to begin construction on pace to opening the largest facility of its kind in 2026. Once complete, Detroit Horse Power’s after-school participants will have
10x
as much time with horses in after-school programs
1,000+
students introduced to horses for the first time annually
5x
as many summer camp participants
We’re grateful for our campaign supporters who have committed $8,000,000 to date.
State of Michigan
Wayne County
Kresge Foundation
Susan Lane
Meijer Foundation
Patrice Schreiber
Schreiber Corporation
Elaine Stern Foundation
Gary Wasserman
DHP Board of Directors & Campaign Committee
Michelle & David Carroll
Chady & David Hall Foundation
LISC/Dick's Sporting Goods
National Recreation Foundation
Nancy Marks & Steve Silver
Cadillac Asphalt
Total Health Care Foundation
Stucki Family Foundation
June Marks
Weller Family Foundation
Russell Family Foundation
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Ralph C. Wilson Foundation
McGregor Fund
NeighborHUB
Carol & Mitch KleiN
Towsley Foundation
Elizabeth Goldsberry
DePorre Family
Amanda Silver
Henry Ford III
Jonathan & Terry Miller
Ken Tropin
Barbara Goldberg
US Equestrian Federation
Dan & Amy Loepp
Paula Preschlack
Ford Motor Company Fund
We are asking our community to invest in our new Stable Future Fund
Detroit Horse Power is grateful to have reached this pivotal point in our journey to include horses as a stronger part of Detroit’s future. As we get underway with constructing our urban equestrian education center, we are calling on our community to join us in laying the foundation for our expanded youth programming when the new facility opens.
At our October 21, 2024 groundbreaking event, we announced the launch of the new Stable Future Fund - a $2,000,000 campaign that will support 18 months of expanded operations at Detroit Horse Power’s new facility. Please join us by committing at one of the following levels:
DHP Legacy Society
Recognizing cumulative support of $25,000 or more through a multi-year commitment
Hall of Champions
$1,000 contribution prominently recognized at the new facility
To join us as a Legacy Society or Hall of Champions member please contact Ciara Ginyard, Development Director at cginyard@detroithorsepower.org or fill out the form below.