Permanent Archery Range

Pittsburgh Archery supports one recreation project, which is converting abandoned  basketball and tennis courts owned by the city to a practice archery range with 9 lanes.   The land is composed of steep hillsides not usable for most recreation. The hillsides are a natural berm for an archery range.

The driving force for the project is from the senior citizens, who lost their archery class in 2020. The classes were conducted in temporary ranges set up in gyms with limited access. There are no permanent practice ranges in the City of Pittsburgh. With Covid-19 all temporary ranges were discontinued. An outdoor permanent and public archery range in the City of Pittsburgh will provide all residents with access to an outdoor archery range.

1. Public works to Finish clearing the area of dead trees
2. Public Works to remove cement barriers to give access
3. Volunteers to clear small brush and debris.
4. Public Works to decide on old chain link fence
   • Remove all fencing
   • Replace fencing
   • Repair damaged fenciing
5. ADA, American for Disabilites ACT, access needs to have  handicapped parking and ramp to the range.
   • Specs Must meet Pittsburgh Public Works approval.
6. Build theBack stops for targets
   • Optional due to hillside
   • Added safety feature
7. Volunteers to Layout the Lanes and place targets.
8. Contract for benches and tables
   • Purchase and delivery. OR
   • Availability through the City and public works
9. Shed for storage of targets, butts, stakes, pins, and tools
10. Miscelaneous Items
    • Bow racks and Ground quivers
    • Waste Container
    • BulletinBoard
    • Toilet facilities
    • Range rules signs
11. Obtain range insurance
12. Opening day April 1 2022

With Covid-19 all temporary ranges were discontinued by the Pittsburgh's parks and Recreation.. An outdoor permanent and public archery range in the City of Pittsburgh will give all residents access to an outdoor activity. The range is near a T rail stop. Thus an automobile is not required to access the range. Although Walking and jogging are excellent exercises, they do not provide upper body exercise. Especially for seniors, archery provides upper body exercise with less injuries than lifting weights.

In addition the range provides great recreational experience while simultaneously helping young athletes develop skills that will benefit them throughout their lives, such as work ethic, focus, patience, integrity, self-confidence, control, and teaches the importance of safety.

Archery ranks as one of the safest activities offered in any organized group setting. Especially impressive is the fact that archery maintains a consistently high safety record despite the fact that participants range from grade-school children to senior citizens, many of whom have never before picked up a bow and arrow. Sports like soccer, baseball and basketball have injury rates much greater than archery.  Golf and fishing have lower injury rates but not lower than Archery.