Innisfail Fish and Game Association has set its sights on building an archery park north of town.
The 20-acre site is located off the C&E Trail. The land is being used for agriculture and is designated for a future cemetery, which is not expected to be needed for at least 25 years.
Fish and game association member David Blocksom told town council recently that the association would pay all of the costs of setting up and maintaining the park. Those using the park will have to be members of the association.
“It certainly looks encouraging in my mind,” said Mayor Jim Romane. “We are always looking for new ideas that’s for sure.”
Councillor and self-confessed “bow guy” Don Harrison said he would like to hear more about the proposal.
“I like the concept and I would certainly endorse administration going ahead and flushing out some of the details.”
Council voted unanimously to direct administration to work with the association to get more details on the proposal and to bring a report back to council soon.
A similar archery park is located near Rimbey. It hosts an event that draws 250 archers.
Innisfail’s park might be able to do something like that as well, Blocksom suggested.
“It would be a great draw for our community, to bring people to our community,” he said.
“There are not really any facilities like this in central Alberta to this capability outside,” the association member said. “We definitely have the ability to draw from Red Deer to any of the surrounding communities.”
The only archery facility that can accommodate provincial or national competitions is in northern Alberta.
The site has more than enough room for the proposed park, with space left over for future expansion.
Blocksom said it will cost about $30,000 to build the parking lot, purchase targets and install shipping containers for storage. The association has already lined up $7,500 in grants and donations.
The town-owned property is leased for agriculture use and notice would have to be given to end that. The archery park would likely not happen until next year.