The NRA Foundation recently gave a $14,500 grant to some local organizations for the purpose of gun range improvements. Kimberly Powell, the membership co-chair of the Wrangell Rod and Gun Club, said her group partnered with the Stikine Sportsmen's Association to write a grant seeking funds to improve the city's gun range. Powell wrote the grant on behalf of the association, she said. The money came from the Friends of the NRA Banquet that was held in Wrangell last November. Powell said that the gun range, located on Spur Road, is used almost year-round by the island's residents. However, the condition of the gun range is in need of improvement.
"It's a widely used community resource, owned by the city, however parks and rec doesn't have the necessary funding with the city budget cuts to maintain the facility so we thought we'd help out and see what we could do to help keep it in working order," Powell said.
The funds for the range improvements are divided amongst various projects. $1,800 will be used to make the shotgun range more accessible, and $3,200 will be used to construct a walking/driving path down the middle of the range. Powell said they also wanted $900 to install surveillance cameras at the range, but the grant did not cover electronics. The biggest project, she said, is $9,500 to replace both pavilion roofs, which are rotting.
"However, we have determined that the extent of the rot is greater than we had originally anticipated," Powell said. "So we may be doing some local fundraising to make up the difference, if needed. We are looking for volunteers if anyone's willing to help out with the city's capital projects crew."
The gun range renovations are bringing together more than just the Stikine Sportsmen and the Rod and Gun Club. As the gun range is a city facility, the city will be providing in-kind labor on the renovations. Local businesses Rock Hard Construction and Mike Allen Enterprises have also offered discounted supplies and labor. The AmeriCorps volunteer team that has been working in Wrangell the past few weeks has also pitched in.
Work began on renovations May 16, with AmeriCorps volunteers clearing brush. Powell said that they hope to have everything complete by June 30. However, she said that depends on the extent of the rot in the pavilions, and whether further fundraising becomes necessary.
"That's our tentative goal," she said.
Reader Comments(0)