The Silver Spring Penguin

Penguin readers split the vote on whether to build an ice rink at Veterans Plaza, according to a recent survey.

Slightly more than 50 percent of poll participants said they did not want an ice rink built in front of Silver Spring’s new civic center. The other half said, “Go for it.”

The survey was conducted last week, after planning commission experts suggested replacing the planned rink and pavilion with green space.

Of the 37 votes, 21 chose not to build the rink. “I’m all for the green-space proposal,” said one reader identified as Twoste. “Nix the rink. Let’s get some more places to drink.”

Another reader, who chose to remain anonymous, suggested placing the rink inside City Place shopping center so that more green space could be added to the plaza. Penguin reader Woodsider made another suggestion.

“What MoCo needs to do is what Rockville did in their new town center: include a LOT of shade trees … [that] provide instant shade (not skinny little 10-foot trees that require us to wait 5 years for a little shade),” Woodsider wrote.

Sixteen voters said the rink should be built in the plaza. One reader, who identified herself as former citizens advisory board member Elnora Harvey, said she didn’t understand why green space had become an issue for the plaza.

“I think P&P [park and planning] better get ready for a real showdown,” Harvey wrote.

Readers were asked Wednesday whether they wanted the ice rink and were allowed to chose from two responses (yes or no). They could vote only once but were allowed to leave comments in a separate field. The survey closed midnight Sunday.

Image courtesy of the Department of Public Works and Transportation.