Detroit Horse Power, a nonprofit organization in Detroit, is constructing the nation’s largest urban equestrian center on a 14-acre site in the Hope Village neighborhood. The $13 million facility, located at Fenkell and Linwood on the former site of a burned-down school, will expand free after-school and summer programs that use horses to help city youth build confidence and emotional skills. The center will feature sustainable design elements, including geothermal wells drilled 550 feet underground to regulate temperature and reduce energy costs, enhancing the nonprofit’s financial sustainability.

The new equestrian center will increase access for families across Detroit, offering transformative experiences for children like those described by parent Danielle Harling, who noted the program’s positive impact on her kids’ self-control and growth. Executive Director David Silver emphasized the project’s role in revitalizing the neighborhood and fostering community investment, with completion expected by the end of the year. The initiative is funded through donations and grants and aims to serve as a model for combining youth opportunity with environmental sustainability in urban settings.