OPD Stables

The City of Orlando is preparing to move the horse stables for the mounted patrol unit from their current location on Rio Grande Ave near the Citrus Bowl [GMap] to Trotters Park [GMap](across from Lake Fairview).

Bungalower has learned that the move will take place before the end of October and is necessary due to the changes happening at the Citrus Bowl.

“The horse stalls need to be relocated as they are now at the Florida Citrus Bowl which is about to undergo major reconstruction,” Cassandra Lafser, a spokesperson for the City of Orlando told Bungalower.

The plan is to renovate some existing stables at Trotters Park and re-use some of the materials from the current stables to do so.

“Trotters Park already has the infrastructure there so this is a cost-effective, efficient way to easily transition the location for now.  The relocation only requires a slight renovation to about 8 stalls,” she said.

The project also calls for adding new fencing for two pastures, a wash down area, parking, security gate, security cameras, storage and restrooms.

The eight stables that are going to be renovated were actually where OPD’s mounted patrol got their start in 1982. At the time it was part of Ben White Raceway.

Trotters Park is also home to Freedom Ride an organization that provides therapeutic horseback rides for children or adults.

Here’s some more information about the mounted patrol unit from OPD’s website:

The Mounted Patrol Unit initially tasked to work special events, such as rock concerts, crowd control, and routinely patrol the downtown corridor. They now enjoy a wider range of assignments including working in neighborhoods which have been identified to have specific problems such as burglaries, auto burglaries, missing person searches, etc. The officers also conduct school programs, meet with civic groups, and conduct barn tours for the public.

Photo courtesy CityofOrlando.net

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  1. Great ! Close to home,and that area is a little bit rough so law enforcement presence is a positive