Don’t Put “Excellence Everywhere” on Ice

Photo courtesy Rockford Register Star.

Contributed by Larry Morrissey, former Mayor of Rockford

I’m sharing comments I made recently to the Rockford Park District 
at their October 13, 2020 Board Meeting...

I speak tonight in favor of saving the Riverview Ice House and Downtown Sports Tourism. I am a former mayor, a Dad and husband, a West Side resident and a Park District taxpayer. 

I’m asking the Park District Commissioners to direct Park District Staff to reconvene the Ice Facilities Committee that has not met since 2018 and work with the Community to develop solutions that support the best interests of all stakeholders.

My strong belief is that we can and must do better. 

Our future requires that we work together to achieve shared success. We’ve done that many times  — with the Nicholas Conservatory and entire Reclaiming First effort as examples. 

The incredibly generous $3.4 million charitable donation offer of the Provenzano Family to support Riverview Ice House demonstrates that we can do it again.

But sadly, what I’m hearing tonight sounds like closing Riverview and ending Tourism downtown has become a bargaining chip for keeping open neighborhood parks and programs -- and a lot of office holders seem to be fine with that, but not me. 

I happen to think Rockford’s west side deserves sports tourism and the jobs and programming that come with it, just like the east side does. The suggestion by a Commissioner tonight that people of color do not need access to an ice facility and the jobs and opportunities that come with it was shocking to me.

And while Riverview Ice House is an older building, it is unfair to once again penalize the west side for having older buildings. Frankly, that financial excuse has been given for decades for moving development to the east side to the detriment of the West Side. That’s not Excellence Everywhere for Everyone.  I find it inexcusable that this consideration would be used to avoid the more critical conversation about equity and access to jobs and opportunities for all. 

So what is our ask:

Now is not the time to make long-term decisions that have permanent, negative consequences based on a short-term crisis. While there a certainly structural challenges that go beyond COVID-19, that’s why we need to have a collaborative conversation now. 

The bottom line tonight, Commissioners, please direct your staff to resume a process you started with the City, the Ice Facilities Committee, the RACVB and other stakeholders. Delay action on closing Riverview and ending Downtown Sports Tourism. Let’s work together to get through this together.