Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Alabama's Tenth Community Archery Park Opens on Friday, December 19

Alabama's tenth community archery park will hold its grand opening at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 19, at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve in Foley, Ala. The facility includes an eight-target adult range from 15 to 50 yards, an eight-target youth range of 5 to 20 yards and a four-target range of 10 to 40 yards, which includes a 12-foot shooting platform for bowhunters to practice shooting from an elevated position. The public and media are invited to attend the grand opening ceremony.

The archery facility is located within the Graham Creek Nature Preserve. The entrance to the park is located at 23460 Wolf Bay Dr., Foley, Ala. The archery park GPS coordinates are 30.347600, -87.625500. The park will be open year-round during daylight hours for recreational shooting, competitive tournaments and outdoor educational programming. Other recreational activities available at Graham Creek Nature Preserve include hiking, biking and walking trails, a canoe/kayak trail, a disc golf course and playground areas.

Use of the archery 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 outdooralabama.com.

For more information about the Foley Community Archery Park, contact Leslie Gahagan or Jacqueline Trimble at (251) 952-4011 or email at lgahagan@cityoffoley.org.

The Foley archery park joins nine others currently in operation including Athens, Cullman, Dothan, Demopolis, Decatur, Heflin, Lincoln, Tuscaloosa and Ozark. These facilities are one component of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) effort to increase awareness and participation in the life skill of archery.

The Foley 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 Foley.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.