Jim Bowman

I spent my entire youth having our parents driving us to Rockton to the Wagon Wheel, the only ice to play organized ice hockey in the region.  The accomplishments of the parents and park district to build the Riverview facility was difficult, admirable and overdue.

Close it now, and the city loses the IceHogs.  Lose the IceHogs, the MetroCenter will close permanently.  More boarded up buildings downtown.

It is unnecessary; keep it open and support downtown Rockford.  Little successes will compound upon each other and benefit each other.  Start with saving the Riverview IceHouse and move forward with more commitments to downtown Rockford. The alternative will be a long bumpy road.