New Archery Range to Open in Spring 2013

A new archery range is expected to open at Lakeside 370 Park in late spring. 

The range is expected to be built on the east end of the park in between the levee and a trail leading to the Sanford Levee, said Vicki Phillips, director of park operations.

The range will have 13 ground-level archer positions with targets between 10 yards and 70 yards—a distance rarely found in other public archery ranges. The range will also have 3D targets—targets that look like deer, Phillips said. 

In addition, there will be three elevated shooting platforms, one at 10 feet, one at 15 feet and one at 20 feet high. 

"We'll have duplicates of the most popular distances," Phillips said. 

Funding for the archery range comes from Proposition P, which St. Peters voters approved with 68 percent of the vote. About $100,000 is budgeted for the project. 

The largest amount of money will go toward building the shooting platforms. Parks staff will construct a sheltered concrete area to provide protection from sun and rain and a place to sit. 

One reason Phillips hopes to open the park by late spring is because the National Archery in Schools Program will hold the international world championships in St. Louis June 28-30. 

"I really want to have this range open," Phillips said. "I'm hoping we get a few customers at the RV park."