Alabama’s newest community archery park recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony in Hoover, Alabama, on Monday, November 9, 2020. The Hoover Community Archery Park is open to the public year-round during daylight hours for recreational shooting, competitive tournaments and outdoor educational programming. The archery park is located at 3308 Afton Circle in Hoover, Alabama.

With shooting distances measured in meters rather than in yards, the Hoover Community Archery Park is designed to facilitate USA Archery’s Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) program. This Olympic-style archery provides archers the opportunity to learn range safety and proper shooting technique in an environment that fosters focus, increased self-confidence and team building skills.

The facility features a five-target range from 20 to 50 meters and a two-target youth range (for bows less than 30 pounds, only) of 10 and 15 meters. The park also offers portable archery targets that can be positioned for practice and JOAD competitions.

“The new Hoover Community Archery Park is an outstanding addition to all of the other parks and recreation facilities throughout the city,” said Toni Leo, Archery Instructor with Hoover’s Archery Program. “Students participating in our program will benefit from certified instruction and have the opportunity to earn recognition through their improved skills and training. Bowhunters are also invited to sharpen their archery skills at the park if they have a valid hunting license.”

Use of the archery park is free for those under 16 years of age or over 65. Alabamians ages 16 to 64 must have a hunting license, fishing license, Wildlife Management Area (WMA) license, or Wildlife Heritage license to use the range. For non-residents, an annual WMA license or non-resident hunting license is required. Licenses are available from various local retailers or online at www.outdooralabama.com.

Hoover joins 17 other community archery parks currently in operation throughout the state. 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 Hoover Community Archery Park was made possible through a partnership between the City of Hoover, Hoover Parks and Recreation, the Archery Trade Association and ADCNR’s Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries with funding for the project provided through license sales and federally matched Pittman-Robertson Act funding.

For more information about the Hoover Community Archery Park, visit www.outdooralabama.com/hoover-community-archery-park.

For information about Hoover’s Archery Program, visit www.hooveral.org/756/Archery.

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

Photo (ADCNR): Veronica Walker, an eighth-grader at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic School in Birmingham, draws her bow during a recent ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Hoover Community Archery Park.