Photo by Karin Elton Dave Larsen, Chuck Obler and Doug Schuttler of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Southwest Great Divide Chapter present a check for $1,000 Tuesday morning to Preston Stensrud, Marshall parks supervisor and Ty Brouwer, the self-described “instigator” behind the Marshall Area Public Archery Range. As soon as the ground dries up, the archery range will be installed near the MERIT Center in Marshall.

MARSHALL — If the weather had only cooperated the Marshall Area Public Archery Range would have hit its target of Oct. 1 for breaking ground.

“If we hadn’t gotten that 7 inches of rain two weeks ago, we were two days away from starting,” said Preston Stensrud, parks supervisor for the city of Marshall. “If we could get a nice dry spell we could really get a lot done in a week.”

Ty Brouwer, a member of the Saratoga Archery Club in Amiret, wanted an archery range closer to Marshall. He made a presentation to the Marshall City Council last November about the favorability of a range in Marshall. The council agreed and voted unanimously to have city staff work with Brouwer on the archery range which will be set up near the MERIT Center.

Brouwer’s proposal includes a sidewalk with archery stations, and 12 targets at distances from 10 yards out to 100 yards. He estimates supply costs to build the sidewalk, target stands, signage, bow holders and some picnic tables at a total of about $8,550. The targets will have frames with roofs on them for protection.

“It’s going to be a nice setup,” he said.

Stensrud agrees.

“It will be a place for local archers to come out and shoot,” Stensrud said.

Brouwer said the money to build and maintain the range is being raised through local fundraisers such as raffles and sponsorships, or through grants.

Brouwer said his proposal has received letters of support from several area businesspeople and organizations, ranging from sportsmen’s and conservation groups such as Lyon County Pheasants Forever to the Marshall Boy Scouts.

“There are a lot of organizations that have donated,” said Brouwer.

On Tuesday, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Southwest Great Divide Chapter presented a $1,000 check for the effort which helped Brouwer get closer to the goal.

“We have about $5,000 to $6,000 raised so far,” Brouwer said.

Chuck Obler of the local chapter of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation said the donation was raised through fundraisers such as the annual banquet in Balaton.

At last November’s city council meeting, Marshall Community Services Director Scott VanDerMillen was supportive of the project. He said Marshall Community Services’ summer archery classes have proved popular.

“All of our sessions the last two summers have been filled,” he said. With a public range available, there could be options for additional classes.