Navy seeks bids for leasing dairy farm in Gambrills

As advocates and opponents of a proposed horse park at the former Naval Academy Dairy Farm continue to debate the merits of the project, the Navy officially opened the doors this week to proposals from organizations that want to lease the facility.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Navy began accepting bids from organizations interested in putting the 875 acres of Gambrills farmland to their own use.

In November 2005, the Navy tested the market for leasing the site and received interest from several parties. The current tenant, Maryland Sunrise Farms, wants to stay. A sand and gravel mining operation, a YMCA, a compost center, a...