A controversial shooting range complex planned east of Rapid City is scheduled to be complete next fall.
That is according to Game, Fish, and Parks Department officials at a recent legislative Appropriations Committee meeting.
The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department is building a 400-acre shooting sports complex that officials said will end up costing over $20 million dollars.
The new facility is poised to attract recreational shooters from around the nation. The complex will offer options for hunters, recreational shooters, beginners, and law enforcement.
GFP officials said the complex is expected to get almost 30,000 visitors a year – adding an income stream to the area.
When the idea was first presented neighboring landowners said their concerns for safety were ignored.
Kevin Robling is the Game, Fish, and Parks Secretary. He said in respect to their concerns adjustments were made to the original complex plan.
“The direction these action bays are in the north end, there are 17 of them, this is where all the competitions will be held. That is one of the bigger changes that was made due to the ordinance requirements from Meade County. The other changes that were made came down to this relocation of the section line, which we did, we moved this entrance road, you can see this is the south end of the range, this is a county road now," said Robling. "There is a wetland complex that runs south of this county road, end at a cul-de-sac. We did remove one of those bays there was some design and construction that we had to obviously add to the overall cost estimate.”
Despite the positive report by Robling some legislatures still have doubts.
Republican Representative Chris Karr has concern about the department having enough staff to run the new facility.
“What I’ve seen over the last 25 years is a decrease in the number of employees and volunteers available. I see more kiosks I see more of at will, please leave some money please donate. When I talk to the parks, they don’t know for sure what dates they’re going to open up certain sections because their short of employees, it depends on if they can get the staffing, less campground hosts," said Karr. "So, there is just less and less of that is what I’m seeing and so I don’t know if I’m staying at the wrong places, I’m interacting with the wrong parks, but I guess I would like to see some data that kind of backs up this thought process that we have extra volunteers and staff that we are going to be able to find to run this.”
Robling said GFP has enough volunteers, and he does not expect that to change.
