(1) The Washington state horse park is hereby established, to be located at a site approved by the commission. In approving a site for the state horse park, the commission shall consider areas with large blocks of land suitable for park development, the distance to various population centers in the state, the ease of transportation to the site for large vehicles traveling along either a north-south or an east-west corridor, and other factors deemed important by the commission.

(2) Ownership of land for the state horse park shall be as follows:

(a) The commission is vested with and shall retain ownership of land provided by the state for the state horse park. Any lands acquired by the commission after July 23, 1995, for the state horse park shall be purchased under chapter 79A.15 RCW. The legislature encourages the commission to provide a long-term lease of the selected property to the Washington state horse park authority at a minimal charge. The lease shall contain provisions ensuring public access to and use of the horse park facilities, and generally maximizing public recreation opportunities at the horse park, provided that the facility remains available primarily for horse-related activities.

(b) Land provided for the state horse park by the county in which the park is located shall remain in the ownership of that county unless the county determines otherwise. The legislature encourages the county to provide a long-term lease of selected property to the Washington state horse park authority at a minimal charge.

(c) If the authority acquires additional lands through donations, grants, or other means, or with funds generated from the operation of the state horse park, the authority shall retain ownership of those lands. The authority shall also retain ownership of horse park site improvements paid for by or through donations or gifts to the authority.

(3) Development, promotion, operation, management, and maintenance of the state horse park is the responsibility of the authority created in RCW 79A.30.030.