A group of horseback riders took to the trails on Sunday ahead of an open house being held this week on the future of the Golden Ears Provincial Park.

This Thursday evening, there will be an open house on a draft management plan for the provincial park in northeast Maple Ridge.

"The main reason this ride was put together was to publicize the fact that equestrian riders do in fact make use of the trail system in Golden Ears park," said Barb Jones of the Haney Horsemen. They were joined by members of the Mission Horse Club who also use the trails.

The draft plan gives a vision for the park, identifies the features of the park, and talks about management issues.

The original plan was developed in 1963 and updated in 1976.

More information about the draft plan can be found at www.env. gov.bc.ca/ bcparks/planning.

The open house runs on Thursday, Jan. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.in the Fraser Room of the Maple Ridge Library, #130-22470 Dewdney Trunk Rd.