Buckeye Hills General Joe Foss Shooting Complex

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

In 2009, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department unveiled a newly renovated, state-of-the-art electric gun range at Buckeye Hills Regional Park. The project involved planning, design and construction of a 120-acre shooting and training facility within the 4,500 acre park. The solar gun range is divided into two separate facilities: a public range overseen by the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, and a law enforcement training facility overseen by the Sheriff’s Department. The public shooting facility provides users with 200-yard and 50-yard ranges, 40 covered stations that hold up to 80 shooters, a new building with a store for target purchases and classroom for training. Utilities are self-sustained within the park, including a water system originating from an on-site well and a solar energy system. The solar electric systems contain battery back-ups which provide power for lighting, heating and cooling to all of the facilities. Using this type of project design helps spare the environment from emissions such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, which are major contributors to smog acid rain and global warning.