The local "sand pit/shooting range" has been neglected for about 15 years and I finally got tired of having to travel to develop loads where I might only take 5-10 shots.
At one time, some locals fixed it up and turned it into a trap range and occationally did some 100 yd target practice down here. It's right on the outskirts of a town with a population under 500.
This sand pit flooded back in the mid-late 90's and it's been neglected ever since, it's got a trap house in the middle of those cat tails somewhere, they are about 10' tall at the deepest point. What it NEEDS is a trench cut into the south side (left on the pic) so that any rain build up will drain out toward a small creek that is only 300 yds south of the pit. Currently the berm prevents any drainage.
Since it's all the weeds and cat tails are so thick, the wind and sun can't get down to the soil to dry anything out. Occasionally people will go down to sight in their rifle before hunting, but in order to get out to the berm, they drive with a vehicle because the weeds are so thick...get stuck, get pulled out and leave some SERIOUS ruts.
I finally went down with the DR trimmer/mower thingy that you see on TV and started fuckin shit up. I thought I could knock it out in a few hours, but what you can see, took over 4....so I'll probably spend whatever time I can this weekend and next week getting it mowed down so it will dry up, and then relocate some of the dirt so if it does get wet again, there will at least be a dry walkway out to the target area.
I thought this was all owned by the city (they rarely do any upkeep in town, so why would this location be any different), but as it turns out...it's private, but abandon, and has been since the early 1960's. All I would have to do to take ownership is figure out WHO USED TO OWN IT, and then pay the back taxes (about $2 per year) Problem is, the person that did own it is dead, their heir is dead and not many people know anything about the rest of the family.
It might just turn into a project, although I can't afford to turn it into the shooting range I would LIKE, I'll give it better love than it's ever had before.
Would anyone have suggestions on places to search for grants or donations to save a place like this? I think it's one of those places that people would use and appreciate if it was available and accessible...but they aren't willing to do the work themselves.
At one time, some locals fixed it up and turned it into a trap range and occationally did some 100 yd target practice down here. It's right on the outskirts of a town with a population under 500.
This sand pit flooded back in the mid-late 90's and it's been neglected ever since, it's got a trap house in the middle of those cat tails somewhere, they are about 10' tall at the deepest point. What it NEEDS is a trench cut into the south side (left on the pic) so that any rain build up will drain out toward a small creek that is only 300 yds south of the pit. Currently the berm prevents any drainage.
Since it's all the weeds and cat tails are so thick, the wind and sun can't get down to the soil to dry anything out. Occasionally people will go down to sight in their rifle before hunting, but in order to get out to the berm, they drive with a vehicle because the weeds are so thick...get stuck, get pulled out and leave some SERIOUS ruts.
I finally went down with the DR trimmer/mower thingy that you see on TV and started fuckin shit up. I thought I could knock it out in a few hours, but what you can see, took over 4....so I'll probably spend whatever time I can this weekend and next week getting it mowed down so it will dry up, and then relocate some of the dirt so if it does get wet again, there will at least be a dry walkway out to the target area.
I thought this was all owned by the city (they rarely do any upkeep in town, so why would this location be any different), but as it turns out...it's private, but abandon, and has been since the early 1960's. All I would have to do to take ownership is figure out WHO USED TO OWN IT, and then pay the back taxes (about $2 per year) Problem is, the person that did own it is dead, their heir is dead and not many people know anything about the rest of the family.
It might just turn into a project, although I can't afford to turn it into the shooting range I would LIKE, I'll give it better love than it's ever had before.
Would anyone have suggestions on places to search for grants or donations to save a place like this? I think it's one of those places that people would use and appreciate if it was available and accessible...but they aren't willing to do the work themselves.
