Central Park

Parks Mounted Auxiliary Unit Honors Jill Rappaport Of “The Today Show” With Parks Citizen Award

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined the New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol’s Mounted Auxiliary Unit at the Boat House Restaurant in Central Park Monday to award Jill Rappaport from “The Today Show” with the New York City Parks Citizen Award at the benefit for the Mounted Auxiliary Unit’s self-funded volunteer efforts. Earlier that evening, Parks Enforcement Patrol horses Ben and Jerry also made an appearance.

“For more than 10 years, the Mounted Auxiliary Unit has served as the eyes and ears of our parks enforcement program. Their partnership with Parks has been a wonderful asset,” Commissioner Benepe said. “I am honored to present Jill Rappaport the Citizen Award as she has shown her commitment to horses and to helping others by generously donating a portion of the proceeds for her book ‘People We Know, Horses They Love’ to the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Program. The Pegasus Riding Program provides equine activities for individuals that are physically, emotionally or developmentally challenged.”

Commissioner Benepe also announced the plans for new temporary stables near the Central Park Zoo Garage, scheduled for opening in the spring of 2008. Since Claremont Stables closed last April, the horses have been housed at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and at the Staten Island Zoo.

The Mounted Auxiliary, founded in 1996, has developed into an operational unit of around 40 volunteers who are available to patrol Central Park, Clove Lakes Park and Van Cortlandt Park. Members are private citizens who volunteer their time to serve the city by assisting officers of the Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) branch of Department of Parks & Recreation.

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Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center