Tensions at Pierce Creek: residents, gun-club members and director clash at conservation meeting

A public meeting about Pierce Creek turned into a heated dispute over whether a certified gun range should be reopened at the park, with residents warning of safety risks for hikers, campers and riders and shooting-club members and volunteers urging access for training and youth programs.

The matter drew sustained public comment at the May 13 meeting of the Page County Board of Supervisors after a public commenter who said she attended a Pierce Creek Conservation Board meeting on May 7 described confrontations and threats tied to the gun-range debate and questioned actions by the park director. The commenter said the director "left me stunned" and that "the gun club's relentless argument ... had a full intention to bulldoze the board into opening the gun range to the public." She also said, "I'm not going to use my name to sign this letter because I too am fearful to have my name attached."

Why it matters: commentors said opening the range would create a danger for other park users, and volunteers who maintain the equestrian trails said their work was disregarded. Supporters of reopening say the certified range provides a controlled place to train youth and security personnel and that a safety structure of range-safety officers exists.

What happened and what people said: The anonymous commenter said trail signs had been removed and asked the county to identify who removed them and whether they will be reinstalled. She said volunteers had cleaned trails after a storm and two national trail-riding organizations' safety officers had declared the trails safe, but that the director closed a trail the volunteers had repaired.

Rick Rivers, a public commenter, said, "I've never threatened anyone over that range. I've shot at that range for 40 years." Jeff Eshelman, who identified himself as vice president of the Pierce Creek shooting club, described the range as a certified facility and said the club updated standard operating procedures and "we would just like to have it open 3 days a week." Eshelman also said the club counts "12 RSOs and 8 to 10, CRSOs," and that volunteers and first responders were prepared to assist if needed.

Board and staff response: Supervisors acknowledged the dispute and said they would seek clarity on the director's authority to close trails for safety and would meet with the conservation director, consult the county attorney and check insurance implications. The board also noted there had been recent resignations on the conservation board; a public commenter said Marc Marriot told meeting attendees, "I move that this meeting be adjourned, and I'm going to resign in the morning." Supervisors described the episode as damaging to the conservation program and said they would pursue discussions when the director returned from vacation.

Distinguishing discussion from action: No formal action by the Board of Supervisors to open or close the range was recorded at the meeting. Commenters described a vote and pressure within the conservation board; supervisors said the conservation board acts independently and that some members had resigned prior to the meeting, but the supervisors did not record a formal overturning or adoption of a county policy on the range at this session.

Community context and next steps: Supervisors said they would ask the county attorney and insurance provider about liability and trail-closure authority, follow up with the conservation director, and try to improve communications among stakeholders. Residents asked the county to trace who removed trail signage and to reinstall wayfinding posted on Pierce Creek trails.

Ending: The supervisors urged all parties to stop threats and name-calling and said they would pursue administrative follow-ups, including legal and insurance checks and meetings with conservation staff.