Bemidji area residents will soon have access to a new and unique recreational facility. Through the work of several non-profit groups in conjunction with county officials, The Beltrami County Shooting Sports Park is on schedule for completion in the coming years.
The park will be located on State Hwy 89, several miles north of the Hwy 2 intersection.
The facility will have many different shooting areas, accommodating a variety of shooting styles and outdoors activities. Varying distance rifle ranges, pistol ranges, archery targets and a trap/skeet field will be among the most popular.
Besides the shooting sports section, there will also be many other activities for visitors. Space for RV parking, as well as a 15-spot campground is included in the plan.
Hiking trails will spread across the southern half of the 360 acre park, which is mostly wooded, and will join up with a longer county trail to the west.
The park is designed to incorporate safety training into all of the shooting activities, and will require it for anyone who wants to use the shooting facilities.
Youth interest and training is one of the primary goals of the shooting park, with local youth education and training programs having first priority.
Programs through groups such as the Boy Scouts, 4-H and the Amateur Trapshooting Association will give local youth a foundation in shooting activities, while encouraging excellence in other areas of life as well.
The Bemidji Archery Club, Trap and Skeet Club, Area Shooters Association and Blackpowder club all have an interest in locating their groups to this new home.
Besides local sporting groups and county citizens, the park will also be used by law enforcement agencies and other government groups. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Dept. of Natural Resources, Sheriff's Department, and Police Departments will all stand to gain from this resource.
The benefit to local firearms enthusiasts is obvious, but there will also be many advantages to the local economy as well.
Contrary to popular belief, shooting sports are some of the safest activities to participate in, especially when compared to other outdoor activities such as snowboarding, football and horseback riding.
Hunters and other shooters are responsible for contributing $27 million to the economy of this region of the state through their purchases at local businesses.
The numbers statewide are considerably higher at over $664 million in spending. Creation of this shooting park will bring even more of these dollars to the area as people come to experience the benefits of this park.
Expected participation through training and league shooting programs, which will be the core users of the park, is expected at 2,200 people. Public participation will drive this number even higher.
Involvement from individuals in this project is strongly encouraged. More information can be found online at www.shootingsportspark.org, where one can also find information on joining the organizations responsible for bringing this to life.
Watch for the park to open its first portions in the spring of 2010.
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