Three Rivers Park: A Minnesota Case Study

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources hosted an archery summit in August, which was attended by the ATA’s government relations director, Mitch King.  The ATA was also represented by ATA members John Larsen of Bwana Archery and Marty Stubstad of Archery Headquarters.

The meeting considered progress and strategy in the state’s commitment to archery and bowhunting recruitment. It also put a spotlight on Minnesota’s Three River Park District, revealing a great example of how a park district can provide pathways to archery and bowhunting. The park makes an excellent case study for other states to follow.

“The district has put together a really good combination of archery programs and ranges,” said King. “Now the park is moving forward with mentored hunting opportunities on park properties. This is good stuff and we’d like to see it duplicated across the state.”

A standout piece of Three River’s strategy is rooted in its relationship with Edina, a nearby city. The ATA advocates partnerships with cities and their park-and-recreation departments through its community archery strategy.

“The city advertises park camps through their parks and recreation brochure,” said Michelle Doerr, the ATA’s director of archery and bowhunting programs. “Like the other programs the city offers, the kids are dropped off at a central location and then bused to the location  — in this case the archery range — for the day and then bussed back in time for parents to pick them up.”

The ATA believes park-and-recreation departments bring unmatched convenience, credibility and familiarity in their communities. Already a neighborhood hub, families are familiar with their city’s park-and-recreation departments. The ideal outcome is that families interested in archery can go to those city parks and enjoy archery shooting with coaching and supervision provided by the parks-and-recreation departments.

Three River Park District Notables

• Three Rivers just built their second archery range this year at Carver Park Reserve. The first archery range is located at Elm Creek Park Reserve.
• The ATA provided $9,000 to the park district last year as part of their Carver Park project. Funding provided equipment so the district could equip each archery range.
• Archery hunting has been utilized as a deer management tool in several parks since 1988.
• Archery is offered in over 40 programs, events, camps each year for youth as well as adults.
• ATA member Jeff Byrne of Cabin Fever Sporting Goods was an active catalyst in the Carver Park project. Byrne was instrumental in helping an area high school provide archery opportunities to its students.
• Three Rivers is working with ATA on an archery session at this year’s National Recreation and Park Association Congress. Learn more here.

For more information about Three Rivers Park District, click here.  For more information about the ATA’s community archery strategy, click here.