Ocean Breeze Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, May 2, 2016

NYC Parks Opens New Theraputic Horse Riding Arena On Staten Island

Daniel Avila

Last week, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, joined DDC Commissioner Dr. Feniosky Peña-Mora, HOOPH Program Director Megan Delmar, Staten Island Borough President James Oddo, former Borough President James Molinaro, State Senator Andrew Lanza, Congressman Dan Donovan, Council Members Deborah Rose, Joe Borelli and Steven Matteo, Assembly members Michael Cusick and Nicole Malliotakis, and District Attorney Mike McMahon to cut the ribbon at the newly constructed horse riding arena on Staten Island.

“NYC Parks is very pleased to add yet another distinguishable amenity to this beautiful space here at Ocean Breeze,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “The addition of this new multi-million dollar horse riding arena not only adds to the growing list of improvements being made here on Staten Island, but also offers a very unique service in providing a therapeutic riding program for New York City's disabled community. That is why we are so proud of this facility and of all of the working hands that helped make it possible.”

Built by the Department of Design and Construction, the facility is intended to house, care for, and ride horses year-round. The site will be ADA accessible and will offer ample parking for ADA accessible vans.

“In support of Mayor de Blasio’s vision for a city that encourages healthy living, DDC is proud to partner with the NYC Parks for the Ocean Breeze riding arena ribbon cutting,” said DDC Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora. “The facility is designed to be a year-round safe space for New Yorkers with therapeutic needs, as well as a resilient stable to protect the animals from extreme weather conditions should they arise.”

The $5.8 million facility will be the headquarters for HOOPH (Helping Others Overcome Personal Handicaps), a therapeutic riding program for New York City's disabled community.

“The Staten Island Recreational Association Inc. is excited and humbled to be afforded the opportunity to provide our programs in this new state of the art facility,” said HOOPH Program Director Megan Delmar. “We look forward to continuing our working relationship with NYC Parks to provide such a unique opportunity to Staten Island's special needs community.”

Superstorm Sandy struck the riding arena when the initial design of the building was nearly complete. In response to a revision of FEMA flood plain maps, the team designed a raised slab-on-piles foundation to elevate the building ten feet above grade, exceeding the new FEMA requirements with the goal of long term resiliency incorporating sea-level rise and heightened storm surge.

“As our special needs community grows, a facility like this will serve a huge need on Staten Island,” noted Borough President James Oddo. “The impact of therapeutic horse-riding for these children is often profound. This unique facility is going to make a huge difference in the lives of families across our borough.”

The program focuses on the individual needs and life goals of each client, and their progress is reviewed every three months. The lesson plans can be as simple as learning how to tie shoes, making a new friend, or even improving balance. The program also uses a sensory trail where such physical abilities can be strengthened on horseback.

"This riding arena has been a long time coming for Ocean Breeze but I am elated to see it materialize for it will now be the new location of Helping Other Overcome Personal Handicaps, an organization that offers important therapeutic riding programs for special needs children,” said State Senator Diane J. Savino.

“Horses have a special therapeutic ability for the disabled, and I’m proud Staten Islanders will have access to this much-needed facility,” said Congressman Dan Donovan. “Thank you to Helping Others Overcome Personal Handicaps, who had the dream and vision for this wonderful project, and to the NYC Parks Department and the Department of Design and Construction for overcoming obstacles and completing their work.”

At nearly 10,000 square feet, the facility includes 8 horse stalls and ancillary spaces. There is also an office and lobby/observation room for therapy program use.

“Equine therapy has brought thousands of children from braces and wheelchairs to the saddles of horses, where they develop balance, coordination, muscle tone, self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment in a unique and pleasant environment,” said Councilmember Deborah Rose. “After years of planning and building, we will now have our own therapeutic horse riding arena that will help countless people with disabilities. I thank everyone whose long-term vision and hard work has brought us to this day, including my colleagues in government, the Parks Department, the Department of Design and Construction and Megan Delmar, program director of Helping Others Overcome Personal Handicaps.”

For more information on HOOPH, please call 718-981-9251 or email program director Megan Delmar at mdelmar@hooph.org.