Parkland is known for its horse-loving history. In fact, when Parkland was incorporated in 1963, its residents fought to maintain a rural lifestyle where people were few and horses were plentiful.
According to the Parkland Historical Society — an organization dedicated to preserving local traditions and providing opportunities for the community to learn about Parkland’s heritage — Parkland founder Bruce Blount loved and raised animals and originally wanted the city to be called “The Ranches.” His intent was to attract residents who liked animals and country living.
But over time, the city evolved, with development changing Parkland’s agricultural lifestyle and creating a shift in attitude away from horses. As roads, shopping centers, and houses began to significantly alter the rural feel of the city, and infringe on land for horse trails, some residents lobbied to preserve Parkland’s horse-centric roots — even calling for the development of a county-wide horse trail.
Led by City Commissioner Mary Jane Sexton between 1986 and 1987, this ambitious project sought to create a 26-mile horse trail that would begin at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines and end at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek. The proposed path would wind north through Markham Park and then have riders following the Sawgrass Expressway toward Tradewinds Park.
Another proposed path (as detailed in Sexton’s 1987 letter to former Coconut Creek City Planner Craig Benedict) had the trail originating at Tree Tops Park in Davie and running north through the Everglades Conservation Area, up into the Loxahatchee Preserve. By building the trail along the levee alongside the Everglades, it would keep the horses away from traffic. This alternate route also included a trail connecting riders with Tradewinds Park via a path through Parkland and Coconut Creek that would require cooperation from local residents.
Sexton faced plenty of opposition to the plan — including that of non-horse-riding Parkland residents with homes along the cross-country trail’s proposed path, who were concerned about the cleanup of horse feces left along the trail. Without cooperation from these residents, connecting the trail to Tradewinds Park would prove difficult.
Despite continued efforts by Sexton and the South Florida Trail Riders, a volunteer horse-riding association, ultimately, the dream of a county-wide trail was never realized.
This article was made possible by archived newspaper clippings generously provided by the Parkland Historical Society. For more information, or to research more history about Parkland, visit www.parklandhistoricalsociety.com.