Baghdad Zoo opens new horse stables, pool
By Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
Dec 6, 2007 - 3:38:09 PM
Blackanthem Military News
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| Lt. Col. Jeffrey Vieira, commander of the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and Dr. Adil Salma Mousa, the Baghdad Zoo's director, cut the ribbon to the new stable facility during the grand opening ceremony at the zoo in central Baghdad Dec. 1. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs) |
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Since the relationship between Zawra Park officials and 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers began earlier this year, the Baghdad Zoo and park have started reopening more and more exhibits to the public.
Park officials and 15th BSB Soldiers were on hand to reopen the latest projects, an indoor horse stable and a children's swimming pool at the park in central Baghdad, Dec. 1.
"We will consider this day a great day for us and Iraqis," said Dr. Muhsen Abed Hussein. "This accomplishment is credited to all the workers. We would love to do more projects like this inside the park."
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Vieira, 15th BSB's commander, Capt. Amy Cronin, the battalion's special projects officer from Carlisle, Pa., and Sgt. 1st Class Herb Mowery were on hand to help park officials cut the ceremonial ribbon to the stables and swimming pool complex.
The new horse stable is an indoor facility, and features 23 individual stalls and a washroom for the horses. The facility is surrounded by a corral and a horse walking area for routine exercise.
The horse stable and swimming pool are located in an area of the park that has been neglected versus the main part of the park surrounding the zoo. During the war, the park and zoo received a heavy amount of damage. Now, there are plans in the works to reopen the gate and parking lot located near the horse stables and swimming pool.
According to Mowery, a native of Parkersburg, W.V., the horse stables and swimming pool was one of the most damaged areas of the park, but now, he said he feels good about the positive impact the two new facilities will have on the entire park and zoo facility.
While the pool will be open to the public as soon as the weather permits, the horse stables will only be available for staff and an equestrian team, according to Dr. Adil Salman Mousa, the Baghdad Zoo's director. Yet, he added he hopes the horse stable may one day be open to the public as well.
The horses that are currently in the zoo are a mixture of horses found on Saddam Hussein and other former dignitaries' properties throughout Baghdad.
Mousa said he believes the newest addition to the park will draw more visitors as did the news of the zoo's reopening earlier this year.
"We are very happy for the assistance of the Army in opening the stable and also the pool," he said. "This should increase visitors to the zoo and [stable]."
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Carlisle, Pa., native Capt. Amy Cronin, the special projects officer for the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, walks along with an equestrian team during the Baghdad Zoo's new horse stables grand opening ceremony at the central Baghdad facility Dec. 1. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs) |
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| Carlisle, Pa., native Capt. Amy Cronin, the special projects officer for 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, walks along with Baghdad Zoo and Zawra Park officials inside the horse stables during the Baghdad Zoo's grand opening ceremony at the central Baghdad facility Dec. 1. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs) |
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| Carlisle, Pa., native Capt. Amy Cronin, the special projects officer for the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, "christens" the new children's pool with a couple of Iraqi men during the grand opening ceremony at Zawra Park in central Baghdad Dec. 1. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs) |
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| Carlisle, Pa., native Capt. Amy Cronin, the special projects officer for the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, swims around the children's pool during its grand opening ceremony at Zawra Park in central Baghdad Dec. 1. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs) |
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