Hillsborough County, Fla. (Oct. 22, 2025) - Hillsborough County is asking residents for input on a proposal that would exchange the current Bakas Equestrian Center property located off Race Track Road for a new, modern equestrian facility at the nearby County-owned Northwest Equestrian Park.
The Bakas Equestrian Center has served the community for more than two decades and is now ready for reinvestment and modernization. However, the site is limited to 9.26 usable acres and is accessible only through a residential neighborhood, which restricts program growth and public access. The County is exploring the development of a new, modern facility at the County-owned Northwest Equestrian Park at 10711 S. Mobley Rd., Odessa, FL 33566, which is 2.3 miles from the Bakas Equestrian Center.
Through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process, the County plans to exchange the current Bakas property for the new facility. The design will prioritize improved operational efficiency, expanded programming, and enhanced public accessibility. There will be no disruption to current Bakas programs during the transition.
Public engagement opportunity
The County will conduct a virtual engagement using the Hillsborough Engagement & Education Hub to collect feedback from the public regarding plans for the park. Comment for this proposal is open from Thursday, Oct. 23, to Tuesday, Oct. 28. Visit HCFL.gov/HCEngage to participate.
Additionally, the County will hold two community meetings to gather input. The first is at 6 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library, 11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa, FL 33626. The second is at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at the same location.