The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park are happy to announce our October 2016 Friend of the Month- Benigno Veraz. Beni, an avid member of the Van Cortlandt Track Club, has become an extremely important part of our Water Monitoring Crew of Tibbett’s Brook. Volunteering his time nearly every week, Beni’s eye for detail provides amazing insight while out on the water and allows him to assist in training other volunteers how to accurately sample the water quality. We are extremely honored to have volunteers such as Beni join us in our programs.

How and when did you get involved with the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park?
When I was invited to join the Van Cortlandt Track Club, back in 2011, I discovered that the Park had something to offer beyond running in its trails.

What is your favorite place in the Park?
Any where there is water, and invertebrates, by the lake, the Tibbetts Brook and wetlands, there you’ll find me.

What is your favorite memory of the Park or event you have participated in?
My two favorite events in the park are running the trails and the back hills and participating as a volunteer in the FVCP water monitoring project every Wednesday morning.

Parks just completed a Master Plan for the Park, what improvements would you like to see in Van Cortlandt Park in the next 20 years?
My big dream for Van Cortlandt Park, which I believe would most benefit the park’s ecosystem, its surrounding environment and the community at large, is the total restoration of the wetlands, including the daylighting of the Tibbets Brook. Also, the DPR should abstain from asphalt paving the Putnam Trail which would have an adverse impact on ecosystem and environment.

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