Shooting Range Fate Unsure Pending Study

The future of the police shooting range at Huntington Central Park remains uncertain pending completion of a study, city officials said.

As a result, negotiations between the city and the police union to make the facility safer and to accommodate both police and uses are also on hold, Community Services Director Ron Hagan said.

“We can’t do negotiations until we find out the costs to rebuild,” Hagan said. “We need to see if it’s feasible to both physically and economically rebuild the range at its existing location.”

The range, located on city-owned land off Gothard Street near Talbert Avenue and operated by the Huntington Beach Police Officers’ Assn. since 1972, is on a former landfill site.

Hagan said soil testing and other analysis are needed to determine the costs to clean up and compact the land.

“We have to do all these tests no matter what we’re going to build on the site,” Hagan added.

Hagan said the City Council on Monday will consider whether to spend $38,600 for the study, which would include design plans and an economic analysis.

Richard Wright, president of the police union, said he agrees that a study is necessary before negotiations can continue.

The firing range is used by a number of law enforcement agencies for training, including the Huntington Beach Police Department.

Local shooting enthusiasts have also urged the council to resolve issues between the city and police union and build a recreational range for public use.

Council members expressed concern about the safety of the range after a stray bullet struck a nearby home in January.

In March the council directed the city staff to negotiate with the police union.

It was hoped initially that a resolution could be reached in 30 days.