“We’re trying to bring our shooting ranges up to par with what the public expects,” Zody said.
At Spring Valley, the current entrance will be closed and relocated, and the trap range shooting line will be renovated.
A new indoor archery training and hunter education building will be constructed, and the range and buildings will be designed for federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, the two officials said.
ODNR said that other improvements for the Spring Valley Shooting Range include:
- New 90-meter static archery range
- Updated walk-through 3-D archery course
- Automated trap throwers on the shotgun range
- Reconstructed and redesigned backstops
- An extended shooting line on the rifle/pistol range
- Parking lot redesign
- Correction of drainage issues
A timetable for the new construction hasn’t been released yet. The estimated cost of the renovations $3 million. Preliminary design work will begin after July 1, and after the design is complete, then dates for completion of the renovations will be determined.
Funding for the project comes from the Wildlife Restoration Act excise taxes collected from the sale of firearms and ammunition, as well as the sale of Ohio hunting licenses.
The state operates five Class A ranges where rifle, shotgun, pistol and archery shooting are accommodated. The Division of Wildlife plans to spent up to $20 million over the next several years adding and renovating shooting ranges across the state.
Upgrades have already started at the Delaware Shooting Range in the Delaware Wildlife Area east of U.S. Route 23. They include 90 shooting positions, a significant increase from the existing range’s 16 positions. The initial development of this project includes preparation of the site and removal of trees, which will begin in the coming months.
New construction will begin this spring, and the reconstructed range is expected to be open by summer 2016.
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