by TaLeiza Calloway
news@thenewsleaders.com
The targets are ordered. Site preparation has begun. Plans to bring an archery range to the city continue.
St. Joseph Public Works Director Terry??? Thene said staff recently surveyed the site and staked the area where the range will be. Targets for the city’s range were a part of an order that Archery Country has made, something done to save on shipping costs, Thene said.
“We hope to have it open this year,” Thene said. “There’s a lot of interest. I’ve heard from several people this is a positive project for the city.”
City council members earlier this month approved partnering with Archery Country of Waite Park on the installation of an archery range on the very southeast corner of the city. Specifically, the range will be at the water-treatment plant 2 site next to Kelp Road.
Archery Country has agreed to donate 10 targets. The targets cost about $300 (each or collectively???). The Waite Park business has also said 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.
Staff is still working on drafting a policy for use of the archery range. Once the range is open to visitors, hours will be one half-hour before sunrise to one-half hour before sunset, Thene said. These hours are the legal times that shooting can occur, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Thene said.
This will be the second time the city has had an archery range. The first archery range was in Millstream Park. It eventually closed because it was in conflict with other activities that took place in the park.