Several more readers submitted letters to Ocala-News.com to share their thoughts on whether or not an ice rink would benefit the local community.
“An ice rink in Ocala would be amazing. Youth hockey leagues, figure skating, public skating…something to do besides horses this and horses that. The horses are wonderful, I love them, but the feeling of walking into an ice rink, the cold air, and gliding around on a nice pair of hockey skates is something I miss. Let’s make it happen Ocala!” says Ron Connelly, Ocala resident.
“This is in response to Mr. Bolinder’s letter regarding the building of an ice rink. No one is trying to prevent an ice rink in Ocala. It just should not be paid for with taxpayer money while our animal shelter is so overcrowded. Animals are being euthanized on a daily basis. Animals are wandering the streets and being killed by cars, and they are being dumped because there is no space in the shelter. It is a matter of priorities. An ice rink will serve a very small section of the population, whereas a new animal shelter benefits everyone,” says Weirsdale resident Joene Alt.
“I’m from Chicago and recently located to Ocala to enjoy my retirement. I played 29 years of organized hockey and found that there are 11 ice rinks in the state of Florida. The Wesley Chapel ice rink arena near Tampa is my favorite. Only takes me about an hour and a half to get there from Ocala. It would be nice to have one in Ocala, but until then I will enjoy my new favorite rink in Wesley Chapel,” says Philip Wolthusen, Ocala resident.
“I live very close to where the land was donated in order to build a new animal shelter. Instead of that, because of a bunch of whiners, animals are being put to death since there is no room at our “no-kill shelter.” Instead of building something that we actually need, the county commissioners want to build a useless ice skating rink. Seriously! It’s absolutely ridiculous and sickening that this is happening to those innocent animals all because people didn’t want to possibly hear barking dogs. Well, not all of us that live out this way want to smell horse crap all the time either, but we have to. Please do what is right and build the new shelter…not some stupid, worthless ice skating rink,” says Citra resident Shana Korach.
“We don’t need an ice skating rink as much as we need an animal shelter. Animals are suffering and they need help. This county needs to get on board with the amount of pets being abandoned on the streets due to overcrowding in the shelters. Stop postponing the building of this shelter,” says Dee Roberts, Altoona resident.