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Buckeye reopens Joe Foss Shooting Complex after city assumes management
Summary
The City of Buckeye reopened the Joe Foss Shooting Complex after a 20-year management agreement with Maricopa County and a series of facility upgrades; the range will be open to the public Fridays through Sundays.
Buckeye officials announced the reopening of the Joe Foss Shooting Complex, located just south of the Gila River off State Route 85, after the city entered a 20-year agreement with Maricopa County to operate and manage the facility.
A city staff member said the complex had been temporarily closed in July and that staff heard numerous calls and emails from residents about the site's importance. “Just south of the Gila River off of SR 85 is Buckeye's newest facility, the Joe Foss Shooting Complex, and it's officially reopened and ready to take aim,” the staff member said.
City staff began managing the site in December, the staff member said, and have worked to restore and upgrade operations since the county handed over the facility. “From that time in December when Maricopa County handed the keys over to the city of Buckeye, community services staff has been out here setting this popular shooting complex back into motion, giving it the love and attention that it deserves,” the staff member said.
Officials outlined improvements including a modern security system, an upgraded IT network, a new public-address system, HVAC improvements and other enhancements meant to serve both the public and the Buckeye Police Department. The facility includes a 50-yard pistol range, a 200-yard rifle range and trap and other fields, officials said.
A city staff member who spoke during the announcement described the effect on public access: “Before this occurred, we were lucky to come out here 1 day a week if we had the reservations in time. But, this will triple our amount of trigger time. This will give us an opportunity to hone our skills and basically support the people who support us.”
According to officials, the Joe Foss Shooting Complex is open to the public Friday through Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; more information is available at buckeyeaz.gov/joefoss. City speakers also said the site will support training courses and educational programs to promote responsible firearm use.
The city framed the reopening as both a recreational resource for shooters and an operational asset for local law enforcement. No formal votes or motions were recorded in the provided remarks; the discussion was an operational announcement about facility management and service hours.
