Alabama’s ninth community archery park will open in Northport on March 19, featuring an 11-target adult range and eight-target youth range.
The grand opening will be at 1:30 p.m. at Faucett Brothers Park in Northport, just north of Tuscaloosa. The 11-target adult range offers targets from 15 to 80 yards, while the eight-target youth range is five to 20 yards. The course also has a four-target range of 10 to 40 yards with a 12-foot platform and a 10-target walking course.
The park will be open year-round during daylight hours for recreational shooting, competitive tournaments and outdoor educational programming.
Day use of the park is free for those under 16 years of age or over 65 years of age. Alabamians ages 16 to 64 must have a hunting license, Wildlife Management Area license, or Wildlife Heritage license in order to shoot. For non-residents, an annual Wildlife Management Area license or non-resident hunting license is required. Licenses are available from various local retailers or online at www.outdooralabama.com.
The Tuscaloosa archery park joins eight others currently in operation including Athens, Cullman, Dothan, Demopolis, Decatur, Heflin, Lincoln and Ozark. These facilities are one component of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ effort to increase awareness and participation in the life skill of archery.
The Tuscaloosa Community Archery Park was made possible by the following sponsors: ADCNR’s Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Archery Trade Association and the City of Tuscaloosa.
The Tuscaloosa Parks and Recreation Authority will offer archery classes at the park this spring. For more information, contact archery instructor Mark Harrison at 205-331-5600, by email at mharrison@tcpara.org, or visit www.tcpara.org.