Rehobeth High School students took aim and released Friday, many striking bulls-eyes on the targets they helped build at a new archery range at Eastgate Park.
The students, from Brad Willis’ agriscience classes, along with students from a dozen or so other local schools, will use the range as part of the National Archery in Schools program funded by the Archery Trade Association.
The association, along with the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, partnered with the City of Dothan to build the new range for the Department of Leisure Services.
It opened Friday morning on a three-acre portion of the park. It is the third archery range to open in Alabama under such a partnership.
Officials praised the partnership, which provided about $70,000 in funding to build the range, buy archery supplies, and to pay for the instructional aspect of the program.
“Anytime you can add something to leisure services, it is a great thing,” Mayor Mike Schmitz said.
City Manager Mike West said it adds to the quality of life for a community by giving people another recreational option.
“It helps make this a better place,” West said, “and holds the potential to bring in tournaments. Dothan has no beach. Dothan has no river. We have been having to parlay a lot of things into economic development.“
Alabama Director of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Corky Pugh said the range gives young people — from fifth through 12th grade — the opportunity to expand archery programs, most of which are incorporated into the physical education programs at various schools.
“What we’re creating here is an opportunity to learn life skills they can carry with them,” Pugh said. “Archery is one of those great sports that you don’t have to be an athlete to excel in.”
The range was constructed without utilizing taxpayer dollars. Funds from an 11 percent tax on hunting licenses and equipment does help pay for the project, making it user based.
The trade association contributed $35,000 toward the project, which was used to purchase bows and arrows and to implement the education programs. The state wildlife group gave approximately the same amount for construction of the range.
The range is a public facility open to anyone, free of charge. Members of the public using the range must have a hunting or heritage license.
Targets are placed at five- to 10-yard increments and allow for close range shooting at five, 10 or 15 yards, and distance shooting up to 80 yards. There is also a platform for elevated shooting, with targets placed at 10, 20, 30 and 40 yards. Full body harnesses are required for the elevated platform users.
Other ranges established with funds from the Archery Trade Association are located in Athens and Cullman. A fourth range is opening in Demopolis.
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