Illinois governor breaks ground on shooting range

SPARTA, Ill. -- Calling hunting and shooting "a way of life" for Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich broke ground Friday on a $20 million shooting complex, a project that was once left for dead.

The 1,200-acre complex with trap and skeet stations, sporting clays, pistol range and three-dimensional archery, plus the biggest campground in the state, will be paid for with state and private funds, Blagojevich said.

The state is buying the land from Peabody Coal Co. this month for $1.8 million, he said. Construction should begin next month.

"The World Shooting Complex will create jobs, raise revenue, and entertain thousands of people in Illinois and outside of Illinois," Blagojevich told about 300 local politicians, residents, and shooting enthusiasts gathered for the groundbreaking at a National Guard Armory here.

State officials hope the center will become the new home of the 100,000-member Amateur Trapshooting Association.

The group two years ago backed out of a deal to move here for what it said were financial reasons.

But it kept searching -- the ATA is growing out of its current space in Vandalia, Ohio -- and is considering Illinois' offer to lease the land for virtually nothing in exchange for using the new facilities for its headquarters and tournaments.

Officials say the project would generate millions in revenue for the state and private businesses from the camping sites, food concessions and corporate sponsorships even without the ATA.

The ATA, which lures about 7,000 shooters each August to its Grand American championship, has narrowed its search to the Sparta site and to land near Las Vegas, said Jim Bradford Jr., who co-chairs the group's relocation committee. A decision is expected by the end of next summer, he said.

But many members oppose Sparta because of its perceived lack of restaurants, shopping and other amenities, Bradford said.

"I've always viewed this as an economic decision," Bradford said. "I believe, however, it has become unnecessarily politicized" in his group, he said.