by TaLeiza Calloway
news@thenewsleaders.com
As the weather gets warmer, some arrows will fly with the opening of the city’s archery range.
Archery Country will host a grand opening event from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 18. St. Joseph Public Works Director Terry Thene said the event is free and open to the public.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Thene said. “They will have bows for people to try it out.”
The range is in the southeast corner of the city at the water-treatment plant site next to Kelp Road. Public works staff recently took advantage of the warmer weather and installed a pavilion at the archery range. The work is slated to be completed in the coming week.
The city partnered with Archery Country in September to bring the amenity back to the city. This is the second time St. Joseph has had an archery range. The first archery range was in Millstream Park. Thene said it eventually closed because it was in conflict with other activities that took place in the park.
Archery Country donated 10 targets. The targets cost about $300 each and are already installed.
The Waite Park business indicated previously it will host clinics on site, staff the site and assist with archers’ equipment and technique. Archery Country also said it would provide maps to the St. Joseph archery range and recommend the site to its customers, Thene told council members previously.
It will take city staff about two hours per week to maintain the site during summer months. It’s estimated to cost $500 per year for repair and maintenance issues.
Thene said many community groups such as the St. Joseph Lions Club and businesses have helped bring the range to the community. Kay’s Kitchen is donating water and caramel rolls for the upcoming grand opening festivities, he said.
corner of the city at the water-treatment plant site next to Kelp Road.
