Using the range is free, but organized classes require registration.
“Interest in archery has been building for quite some time,” Fife said. “Definitely in the state of Ohio but all across the country.”
Centerville has been looking into purchasing equipment and offering classes for several years, and now the range will be funded by an $11,500 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Restoration Program, which is distributed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
That money comes from taxes on recreation and sports equipment, Fife said.
“A variety of people of all ages (have wanted a range),” Fife said. “Pretty much from kids to adults, particularly target archery if they’ve been into hunting.”
Fife noted interest has come from local hunters to fans of the latest Olympic Games and recent movies like The Hunger Games.
“In Ohio there’s a strong hunting background, so a lot of people are into it already,” Fife said. “But as the Olympics have shown, there’s a lot of mainstream interest in target shooting.
The outdoor range will be unsupervised, and open 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset, according to the park district website.
Experienced hunters will be welcome to bring their own equipment, but the park will also have equipment for novices.
Fife noted the parks plan to offer fall classes in archery, possibly adding additional programs depending on interest.
The park will feature several caveats for safety. People under 18 years of age will require direct visual supervision by an adult 21 or older. Broadhead and razor tipped arrows won’t be permitted, nor will pets, according to the release.
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