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June 30, 2006
Michelle Coats, APR
Community Information Specialist

NEW ROBERT L. STRICKLAND SHOOTING RANGE SET TO OPEN JULY 8

Shooting enthusiasts will celebrate the opening of a new, state-of-the-art Robert L. Strickland Shooting Range July 8 when Volusia County officials, staff and members of the public officially open the park in its new location.

“The Strickland Shooting Range was moved to the Indian Lake Road site to ensure that shooters would continue to have a place to practice gun safety and to insure that the neighbors of that site are happy and safe as well,” said Chair Frank Bruno.

The range is built to National Rifle Association (NRA) standards. It includes a state-of-the-art baffling and berm system to ensure shooter safety and avoid stray bullets. Shooting distances are set at seven-yard, 15-yard, 25-yard, 50-yard and 100-yard target positions. The rifle shooting stations have a variable height swing-out seat that enables a person to shoot from the left or the right. All of the shooting positions have been made wider to offer safer and more comfortable shooting. Fans have been generously spaced to keep shooters cool and help keep the air clean.

The new Strickland Range site is at 1180 Indian Lake Road. The 10-acre parcel was donated by Consolidated Tomoka Land Company.

The range was named for former Volusia County Commissioner Robert Strickland when it opened in 1970. Strickland began his Volusia County Commission service in 1964; served as chairman of the commission in 1969 and continued as a “holdover” in the new manager-council government until 1972. Strickland served as Council Chair in 1971.

The Miller Building at Strickland Shooting Range houses a meeting/education room. The County Council named the range building after Jerry Miller in honor of his contribution to the shooting sports.

“Jerry Miller spent most of his life teaching shooting sports to adults and children,” said County Council member Art Giles. “After his passing last year, many people suggested a fitting memorial to his lifelong pursuit of teaching others about the shooting sports. At the request of his family, we felt naming the building most appropriate.”

The range was built by Bean Construction, Holly Hill, at a cost of $1.5 million. Funding came from a grant from ECHO for $218,655, and $5,000 from the NRA.

The fate of the former Strickland Range park site will be determined after the Volusia County Leisure Services Division holds a community meeting, Wednesday, July 12, to seek input into the proposed redevelopment of the site. The park site is in eastern Volusia County on Strickland Range Road in Holly Hill.

Bellomo-Herbert and Company, Inc., the consultants for the development of the master plan, and members of Volusia County’s Leisure Services will present alternatives for the site and solicit public input on the proposed conceptual master plan and the renaming of the park.

The meeting will be at Sica Hall, 1065 Daytona Ave., Holly Hill, Wednesday July 12, at 6 p.m. Directions to Sica Hall: from U.S. Hwy. 1 take LPGA Boulevard east to Daytona Avenue, then turn right (south) onto Daytona Avenue. Sica Hall is on the left, south of LPGA Boulevard.

For additional information, please call Leisure Services at (386) 736-5953, write to 202 N. Florida Ave., DeLand, FL 32720 or email SInman@co.volusia.fl.us.

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