Jeffco forming group to explore public shooting range

[whitbaby]

Where is that LE only range?
Somewhere near Matthew Winters or more up towards Genesee? Seems like there would be a spot there.
OR - why not near Rocky Flats? What with all the diseases from that, seems like useless land, right? Oh, oops, they're putting in a subdivision there! (Wow, count me out on wanting any part of that!)

They shoot just off I-70 over against an abandoned quarry wall on the west, it is near the Matthews-Winters open space park on the northwest side of I-70.. Actually some satellite views look like there still might be some quarrying ops going on.

Now and then you can see some LEO-type cars parked there and LEOs walking around with earmuffs. I've never seen any kind of shooting booths, but a few cable reels and boxes as benches and target stands at the base of the wall.
I don't know if it's an official range or just a place they squatted on and assumed ownership of. If it's an established shooting range I'd imagine they'd want to keep it to themselves and not let us riff-raff in. It would be a good place for an organized range. It IS relatively close to I-70 though, less than a mile.

It's not like the only place they have to shoot. I've been in their tactical shooting center in the basement of the sheriff's complex. They have some good shoot/no shoot video trainers. They use lasered Glock guns that record hits and misses and dozens of scenarios, from indoor domestic disputes to outdoor engagement around dumpsters, etc. I've shot there at a Citizen's Academy session...impressive.
They also have outdoor places where they train SWAT tactics...so they do have other places but they didn't disclose where.

There is an established shooting area on the way up to the radio facility atop Squaw Mtn just off C103.
Not a very good area. Rocks everywhere and no place to park, just on the shoulder of a dirt road.

[kidicarus13]

why not near Rocky Flats? What with all the diseases from that, seems like useless land, right? Oh, oops, they're putting in a subdivision there! (Wow, count me out on wanting any part of that!)

I wonder if the developers are required to disclose all the toxic waste illegally dumped in that area before it was bulldozed over? WOW! I'd rather buy swamp land in Florida.

[MarkCO]

I sent an email to Nancy York. Her assistant emailed me back this morning saying they would review and get back to me in a few weeks.

[MarkCO]

I got an email. There were 70 applicants, I was not chosen. Here is the text:

Thank you so much for your interest in being a member of the Jefferson County-initiated working group dedicated to exploring public shooting range opportunities in our community. We received close to 70 inquiries from residents across the County interested in being a part of the working group, and as you know, there were only 3 positions available. This made our decision even more difficult, and unfortunately we will be unable to offer you an official spot on the current working group.

That said, if you are interested, we will add your email address to a list and share updates on the working group activities between now and July when we are to brief the Board of County Commissioners on our findings. If you are not interested in receiving updates, please send a message to Karey Baker at kbaker@jeffco.us and we will remove your email contact. Also, if you have information you would like to share, please email Karey.

Lastly, the working group meetings will be open to the public and you are more than welcomed to attend as an observer. The first meeting will be held at the Jefferson County Open Space office located at 700 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 100 on March 12, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. We will be meeting in the Ponderosa Room just inside the main building doors.

On behalf of your fellow community members and County staff, we thank you for your willingness to serve your community and hope that you remain engaged on this important matter.

Thank you,

Nancy York Karey Baker
Partnerships Coordinator Administrative Coordinator
303.271.5966 direct 303.271.5951 direct
303.570.3608 mobile 720.480.0714 mobile

[whitbaby]

I got the same letter.
Hope the three that were selected are retired etc., so they can dedicate the time this will require.
I plan on sitting in on the meeting on the 12th.

[whitbaby]

I left before the meeting was over...truly underwhelming.
I really feel for the three guys that were selected to serve on the working group. I'm afraid they're gonna be 'advised' to a standstill.
There was a whole room full of 'experts' that had a firm grasp on the obvious.

I hope any site they decide on has a lot of the precious Prebles Meadow Jumping Mice for targets...

They should be concentrating on the Location first..then the Operation. They had a pretty well thought-out list of criteria, they didn't need to belabor all of it again.
There were some that were worried about competing with the paying ranges now.
Some wanted archery included. I think archery is beyond the scope of a 'shooting range' working group.

I'm sure there are existing Jeffco land owners that have unused property that meets most of the criteria. I think the County should solicit existing Jeffco land owners about a possible land-swap with the County. It's done all the time, usually with developers.

[Logan]

Thanks for the update, whitbaby. I checked-in on the thread earlier to see if there were any updates.

As far as archery goes, I love shooting my bow but Bear Creek Park right off 470 already has an archery range. I hope they focus their energy on a gun range as that's the whole intent behind this thing.

Paying ranges.....I shoot at Blucore in the winter months and on a neighbor's private land in the summer but only when he is with me. I'd much rather shoot outdoors. I really hope they don't screw this up. Thanks again for the update.

[Logan]

Received an email update from Administrative Coordinator, Karey Baker, today. The following link is to several .PDFs which include meeting summaries, proposals, etc, etc..

http://jeffco.us/parks/documents/

[mcjhr]

Thanks for the updates!

[kidicarus13]

SUMMARY:
This Working Group’s efforts have resulted in concepts that could be explored further, and those aspects of a public shooting range that should weigh heavily in the development of whatever site is chosen. As this endeavor was intended to be a very broad feasibility study and report on general considerations that should be taken into account, much more research should be conducted to delve deeper into options presented herein as events unfold. Broader community involvement in the process, apart from those agencies and individuals involved in this work needs to take place in the vetting of a location and the financial and operational aspects of a potential Jefferson County Public Shooting Range.

***

Looks like that about wraps it up for another 5 years or so. Back to shooting in Pike Nat'l Forest.