The Wasilla City Council last week passed a measure that allows outdoor shooting ranges to be built in the city, provided they meet a long list of requirements. The city is one of the few property owners able to meet the requirements, and city leaders plan to build an outdoor range on land near the Menard Sports Center on the west side of town.
Wasilla Public Works Director Archie Giddings said the city plans to apply for grants to finance the project, and will be looking for donated labor and materials as well. Some work will be done at the site this year, he said, but he doesn't expect it to be open until 2010. The total cost of the project will depend on many factors, including how much volunteer labor and materials boosters are able to round up.
Berms of dirt, left over from excavation work done when the Sports Center was being built, can be used as a backdrop for the range. Shelters with side walls will be built to prevent bullets from traveling outside the target area.
Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright pitched the shooting range plan after hearing from residents who complained that there are too few ranges in the area. Aside from a shotgun range off Wasilla Fishhook Road at Grouse Ridge, this would be the only other outdoor shooting range between Wasilla and Palmer.
Upper Susitna Shooters runs an outdoor range at Mile 94.5 Parks Highway, and a range is planned off Maud Road in Butte.
Officials from the Friends of the National Rifle Association told the Council last week they are eager to help with funding and other resources.
The group recently donated money to the state Department of Natural Resources for an outdoor range near Butte, one member said.
"We just wrote DNR a $20,000 check for the Maud Road range. That will be built this summer. We can't commit to any hard numbers here tonight, but we're here to help," said Denny Hamann, chairman of the Alaska Friends of the National Rifle Association.
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