There seems to be a misunderstanding of sorts concerning hockey and horses.

As I understand, the hockey people want more than hockey. Their vision is for a multi-use sports facility for as many Murrieta residents as possible in as many sports as possible, for all ages and incomes.

The horse people are for the few with enough money and leisure time to be able to own and ride horses in a protected area that most folks aren't allowed to use, but still have to pay for in higher property costs due to less land available because of open spaces.

Of course, all the taxpayers in Murrieta need to pay for the horse facility for the few who own a horse. Have you ever seen what a horse leaves behind? Who gets to pick that up? The hockey people have the right idea to work alongside the city of Murrieta by bringing in funds to build the facility and pay for the upkeep and wages with non-taxpayer monies.

As stated by the movers and shakers with the hockey people, a nonprofit venture would run everything and not cost the taxpayers any money, only land that the city has already set aside for all Murrieta residents.

A smaller, similar, city-run facility in Escondido actually generates $300,000 a year for the city's general fund. As to the bad things happening at our parks, that's why we have a police department to police our city, and a fine job they do.

By the way, maybe some of the extra money the sports facility generates could go toward hiring some more police. One of the best deterrents to crime is a very visible police department interacting with the community like our Murrieta police do. I've had a few e-mails with the chief on traffic and he was very proactive in working to solve some of the traffic problems I brought up. I'm pro-police.

This multi-sport facility is right on so many levels. Finally a way to get kids involved in team sports that will not cost the average taxpayer more, a way the city can move forward without the added costs of building and staffing a state-of-the-art sports facility for the residents of Murrieta.

Studies show kids in sports get in less trouble than kids just hanging around with nothing to do. Kids are healthier and will live longer if they are in sports at a young age. Our reputation as a great place to live will be enhanced by the success our schools' teams will enjoy with the higher-quality players that will naturally follow from the different sports programs a sports facility offers.

My daughter earned her college scholarship in volleyball, and she had to travel to San Diego and Laguna Beach during high school years to get the training needed for that scholarship. Boy, could I have saved some money if this was around 10 years ago.

I am not part of the movers and shakers who are pushing the great opportunity for our city and as many residents as possible, although I will make myself available as a volunteer coach if it gets to be a reality and they would want my help. I've had the privilege to coach teams in roller hockey over the last 10 years in recreational, high school and travel. I have seen firsthand how good sports are for kids and the community.

Good luck to the Inland Valley Sports and Arena Commission.

- Dan Perkins lives in Murrieta.