[Nfbf-l] Fw: Article from Orlando Sentinel A Section 2010 02 05

[Kirk]

Sherri, this is a darn shame! Again, like you had mentioned it is the 
citizens in a small voting populas that get hit the hardest every time! KH


Kirk Harmon
1031 Lenmore CT.
Orlando, FL. 32812
Office: 407-380-3371
Cell: 407-473-2176

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" F.D.C.P. Turning HOPE into REALITY"

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
To: "nfbf-l" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; <Samme.Ripley at ocfl.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 6:01 PM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Fw: Article from Orlando Sentinel A Section 2010 02 05


Seems the the so-called non-disabled always come first. This is really sad!
Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "NFB-NEWSLINE Online" <nfbnewsline at nfb.org>
To: "Sherri Brun" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 5:30 PM
Subject: Article from Orlando Sentinel A Section 2010 02 05


Orlando to oust horse therapy for disabled. Mark Schlueb , Orlando Sentinel.
In the two years Jonalyn Davis has been bringing her daughter Sharon for
therapeutic horseback rides at an Orlando park, she has seen the
brain-damaged teen get stronger, her back straighten, her balance improve.
It's a 45-minute drive for me so she can ride for just 30minutes, but I do
it because it helps her," the Clermont woman said. It's heartbreaking. I
don't know where we'll go if it isn't there. But Sharon's time in the saddle
may be coming to an end. The charity program, Freedom Ride, is in a corner
of Trotters Park, and city officials have decided the land would be better
used for soccer and baseball fields -- even though there's no money to build
them. We have to meet the needs of a broader population, not a special
interest," said Lisa Early, who runs Orlando's Families, Parks and
Recreation department. We have a lot of demand for ball fields for both
youth and adults. In choosing not to renew the nonprofit group's lease when
it runs out in 2012, the city is ejecting an organization that annually
serves about 150 adults and children such as Sharon, who suffered brain
damage after nearly drowning as a small child. Riders have cerebral palsy,
muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, autism, mental retardation,
attention-deficit disorder, deafness and blindness. It's the last program of
its kind in Central Florida; development and economic pressure have already
ended two others. Parents say children in the program can show remarkable
improvement. Physically, supporters compare riding to swimming: It exercises
multiple muscle groups, which is especially important for those with
conditions that can cause muscle to atrophy. There seems to be a
psychological benefit, too, particularly for autistic children. Some who
rarely uttered a word before coming to Freedom Ride began speaking . 'We
don't have the funds'  City officials have given Freedom Ride ample warning.
But the charity's leaders say they don't have the money to move. The
organization relies on donated horses and a dedicated group of about 100
volunteers. We don't have the funds to procure another piece of property,
and this is a hard economy to solicit donations," board member Sam Dunaway
said. Likewise, Orlando doesn't have the money to follow through on its
ambitious plan for four soccer fields, four baseball fields and other
improvements either. Just months ago, Mayor Buddy Dyer's administration shed
237 positions through buyouts and layoffs to avoid a deficit. Only federal
grants are preventing the layoff of police and firefighters, and budget
pressure is expected to continue for several years. Times are tight, and the
city is not in a position to build them right now," Early said. Even so,
there has been no discussion of extending Freedom Ride's lease until City
Hall has the cash to go along with its plan. City officials say they might
be able to use a Freedom Ride pasture for a makeshift practice soccer field
until funding is available. The city's plan removes the last vestiges of
horseback riding from Trotters Park, which has a history of equestrian use
that stretches back more than 60 years. The site had been used as a training
center for champion harness-racing horses called trotters since the 1940s.
The city bought the land In 1947 and named it Ben White Raceway after the
pioneer colt trainer and harness-racing driver. But use of the track fell
after competing facilities opened throughout the South. And despite appeals
a decade ago to save the raceway, the city finally ripped out the clay track
and built baseball and soccer fields. The riding program was allowed as a
nod to the park's heritage. Initially, Freedom Ride had a 20-year lease of
20 acres. A few years later, city officials cut the lease to 10 years and
rented half the land to a for-profit riding business for the able-bodied.
That business shut down last year. Freedom Ride representatives say the
organization is being steamrolled. The nonprofit was never told about -- or
asked for input on -- a new "master plan" for the park, which concluded the
equestrian use provides "little overall community benefit. Dunaway said
repeated requests to meet with Dyer were rebuffed. But Laurie Botts, who
runs Orlando's real-estate division, said the city has been more than fair
to Freedom Ride. The charity pays no rent, and a few years ago the city
released the group from a promise to build a covered arena and other
improvements. Freedom Ride simply hasn't measured up to the city's
expectations, she said . Official: City needs fields  City officials point
to records that show most of those who use Freedom Ride live outside city
limits. Meanwhile, there's heavy demand for more sports fields. We look at
the numbers and make decisions based on facts and not hype," Early said.
Youth sports groups said the need for more fields can't be overstated. Two
groups share Trotters' four existing soccer fields, and one has had to move
some games to area private schools. As soon as they put the new fields out
there, they'll be full. The demand always outstrips the availability," said
Scott Bates, vice president of FC America, a soccer club that plays at
Trotters. Freedom Ride board members say the need for sports fields
shouldn't be filled at the expense of a program for the disabled. They say
the numbers ignore other visits, such as numerous school field trips.
Students at nearby Princeton House charter school, which serves autistic
kids, visit twice a week. And while Freedom Ride does welcome riders who
live outside city limits, so do youth sports leagues, Dunaway said. The city
is spending millions of dollars to build an arena for the Orlando Magic," he
said. How many of their season-ticket holders live in the city limits?
Illustrations: PHOTO: Freedom Ride volunteers help Sharon Davis, 17, ride
Ginger this week at city-owned Trotters Park.\ GEORGE SKENE/ORLANDO
SENTINEL\ . PHOTO: Julissa Abreo, 28, waits with mom Juana Ramos for her
ride at Orlando's Trotters Park. The city is planning to end Freedom Ride's
lease so it can add playing fields. Freedom Ride is the last program of its
kind in Central Florida.\ GEORGE SKENE/ORLANDO SENTINEL. Mark Schlueb can be
reached at mschlueb at orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5417..

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