By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
Picture by Logan Wells/KYMN News
The Northfield Archery Range is set to move from its current location near the Water Tower off of Jefferson Parkway to just down the road at Meadows Park. The current location of the range is on the site where the proposed water treatment plant would have been constructed. While the treatment plant project is on hold, expansion of Jefferson Parkway is set to happen this fall, meaning that the archery range would have to move from its current location.
City Engineer and Public Works Director Dave Bennett cited safety as the major issue with archery staying at its current location:
“It’s really a safety item we’ll have when this road opens to the public, you’ll have the sidewalk and trail. And on this north side, we can’t have people walking here and then an arrow shooting in that direction. So it’s really a safety thing.” – Dave Bennett, Northfield Public Works Director/City Engineer at the 7/22/2025 City Council Meeting
Listen to the news:
Bennett stated that city staff and the Parks Board surveyed both the users of the range and those of Meadows Park, as well as neighbors in the area, about where the range should be located. City Councilor and Parks Board member Kathleen Holmes praised the method for how the public was surveyed:
“This was also one of the first times we put up yard signs and had the QR code and did surveying. So I think this was great. Model for us in terms of how we want to get feedback on our Parks and Recreation spaces.” – Kathleen Holmes, Northfield City Councilor at the 7/22/2025 City Council Meeting
Pictures of Meadows Park and the community garden.
Meadows Park is located on the Southeastern side of town, off Abbey Road and Erie Drive. The park consists of a gravel parking lot, several walking trails, and a community garden. The new archery range would be located on the eastern edge of the park and would require the removal of a few trails. The range would be pointed east towards Spring Creek Road/Hall Avenue. The community garden would remain unaffected.
The estimated cost of the project was just under $20,000 for the installation of the new concrete platform, turf establishment, and staff work/time.
Both Councilors Jessica Peterson-White and Chad Beumer raised concerns about the new archery range being less accessible since users will have to walk along a trail from the parking lot to the range.
“In which we have an archery range, but it is not accessible. Ideally, if at all possible, I would. I would like to see that since all users certainly deserve access.” – Jessica Peterson-White, Northfield City Councilor, at the 7/22/2025 City Council Meeting
The two councilors brought forward an amendment to request that city staff develop a proposal to enhance the trail’s accessibility. Bennett stated that the construction fund for the Jefferson Parkway extension project (which included the archery range) was well under the approved budget and could be a source of funds for the council to use for additional trail costs.
Moving the Archery Range was approved unanimously. The proposal for the trail will be presented to the council, along with a cost estimate, at a later date.
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