December 11th Public Open House Summary

What was this event?

A public open house for the Jonesville Shooting Range and Park planning project was held on December 11th, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:30pm in the Sutton Elementary School gym. With an open house format, attendees were able to directly interact with the client and consultant team. Various exhibits were available at the open house including maps to show the location of the site, and new iterations of concepts for possible improvements focusing on the development of a shooting range.

Attendees were encouraged to provide written comments, and to visit the project website for additional information or to leave digital comments.

Concept Layout Exhibits from the Event

Option 1 - Consolidated Open Space 

Option 1a - Including Action/Practical  Shooting 


Option 2 - Separation of Uses

Option 2a - Including Action/Practical  Shooting

 

Public Input Boards

Opinions on Facility Importance 

For one exercise, participants were asked to place a red sticker on the facility they would choose if they could only have one, to add a blue sticker for the facility they would add next, and a yellow sticker for the third facility they would prioritize. This was not a statistical exercise, but rather a general way to understand prioritization and which range types provide broader benefit (based on input from those who attended the meeting). For example, a 300 yard range can be used for shorter distances.

Based on input from the November 6th meeting, Conceptual Options 1a and 2a included areas (cells) for action/practical shooting. Some participants were not familiar with this shooting type and the facilities for it.

A very general summary of this exercise and conversations was that the 300 yard, 100 yard, and 25 yard ranges had the highest value for expected typical uses. Having areas (cells) for action/practical use also showed to be valued by participants.  

Opinions on Shooting Range Access

The most significant difference between Conceptual Option 1 and 2 are how easily they are accessed from the east (the existing campground and trail access area). Option 1 is open to that side with multiple ways to access the range facilities, whereas Option 2 is closed to the side, with only one way to access the range facilities.

This exercise asked people to provide their input on the strengths and weaknesses of these layout options. For this, they were asked to assume that direct enforcement on the site is limited. 

The strengths and weaknesses (as written on the boards by participants) included:

Option 1- Consolidated Open Space

Strength:

  • More open space remaining for ATV users on west side of Slipper Lake.
  • Preferred plan, even w/o the 300 yd range.

Weakness:

  • Less access control
  • Tactically open
  • Too open into parking areas of shooting range

Option 2 - Separation of Uses

Strength:

  • May limit alcohol use in campground mixing with shooting. Also, late night shooting by campers.
  • Better Access Control than Option 1.
  • More protected for active shooters.
  • I like limiting driving access to shooting range for the sense of protection for the shooters, and to reduce conflicts between different users.

Weakness:

  • Cuts off toilets at range for campers.
  • Can this design be shifted to the West to allow more ATV use of the open space currently there.
  • Limits access to 17 mile trail for those parked up tops.

Photos from the Event

 





 

 

 

 

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