Workers are busy turning land in Springfield, Mo., that once housed a private horse farm into a public park that will feature horses, while also trying to teach environmental lessons to visitors.

The Springfield Parks and Recreation Department’s Equine Center and its riding arena and other areas will be ready for use by mid-2007, but it will be up to two years before pastures are ready for the horses, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

The fields were recently planted with winter wheat and other grasses will be planted later.

Park programs will also teach people about how to keep horses without causing environmental problems like erosion and water pollution