Rest of the park will remain open while the project is underway
The public pistol and rifle range at Knight Trail Park in Nokomis will close Monday, June 27, for the installation of baffles, Sarasota County has announced.
The rest of Knight Trail Park will remain open during the installation; the public pistol and rifle range will re-open by Friday, Sept 30, a news release says.
“Consistent with other ranges around the country, baffles are being installed to provide a safer environment for the area beyond the berm at the pistol and rifle range,” the release points out. That area will be used by the adjacent Sarasota Trap, Skeet & Clays facility for a new sporting clay course, the release notes. The baffles will reduce the danger area for sporting clay shooters who will utilize that new course, the release explains. Sarasota Trap, Skeet & Clays is adding the course “to accommodate this growing sport and host regional, state and national tournaments,” the release continues.
“We recognize the temporary inconvenience to our shooters, but the project will ultimately allow our partners to expand, creating even greater opportunities for sports tourism in Sarasota County,” said Carolyn Brown, director of the county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department, in the release. “We look forward to sharing the improvements with the community.”
County staff members visited and researched the Tenoroc Public Shooting Range in Polk County and other similar facilities to observe best practices and develop a cost-effective baffle design and plan, the release continues. The county also plans to utilize in-house staff and contracted services for the construction of the baffles, as well as labor provided by Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office inmates and offenders, “which will result in significant cost savings,” the release notes.
Knight Trail Park, located at 3445 Rustic Road in Nokomis, offers archery, hiking and camping in addition to numerous shooting sport ranges and courses, the release adds.
For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 861-5000, or visit www.scgov.net.