New park will offer Olympic shooting sports, hunter safety classes and other recreational opportunities.
Florida – -(Ammoland.com)- Officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Palm Beach County gathered to officially break ground for the Palm Beach County Shooting Sports Park.
Representatives from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and the National Rifle Association (NRA) also participated in the ceremonial groundbreaking event. Phase 1 of this world-class facility – rifle and pistol ranges – is expected to open in 2017.
Nearly 900,000 Floridians participate in target shooting, and the new Palm Beach County facilities will meet this growing demand.
With five rifle and pistol ranges; five Olympic trap fields, six American trap fields, nine skeet fields, and a 12-station sporting clays course, the Palm Beach County Shooting Sports Park will be one of the largest shooting sports facilities in Florida. It will provide opportunities for people to participate in shooting disciplines safely, allow practice for Olympic-style shooting events, and host hunter safety courses.
“This new facility will provide an opportunity for the entire community to participate in safe shooting sports activities, some of which are featured in the Olympics,” said Nick Wiley, executive director of FWC. “The shooting sports industry is important to Florida’s economy and our wildlife conservation efforts, and we are glad to help provide a place for people to enjoy these recreational activities safely.”
Phase I of the project was supported through funding from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program, which brings funding from the shooting sports industry and hunting and shooting sports participants directly back to Florida for these kinds of projects.
Additional support and funding are provided by Palm Beach County, NRA, Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and SFWMD. Phase 2 of this 150-acre complex, constructing the sporting clays range, is expected to go out for bid in early 2017.
The new park is located on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road – towards the main entrance to J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area and Everglades Youth Conservation Center Camp.
Palm Beach County Shooting Sports Park Plans by AmmoLand Shooting Sports News on Scribd