Kourtney Klein says she’s not much of an archer, but her skills contradicted her words Thursday afternoon at Boosalis Park in north Lincoln.

To dedicate the new Lincoln Archery Range, organizers rejected a ribbon cutting. Instead, they arranged for members of the Dawes Middle School archery team to break red balloons attached to the range’s targets.

A stiff north wind made the task more challenging by whipping the balloons around. After four young archers each missed a time or two, 12-year-old Kourtney broke a balloon and made the dedication official.

Later, she modestly explained she’s far from the best shooter on the 25-member team. More impressive, she said, is the recently completed course, which features 12 straight target stations and 28 stations on a wooded field course that simulates bowhunting conditions.

“Wow, they really did a nice job on it.”

The range was built by the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Other partners are the Lincoln Prairie Bowmen and the range’s neighbor, the Lincoln Trap and Skeet Club. Access to the archery range is gained by using the club’s rock road west of 48th Street just north of Superior Street.

The project cost about $35,000  and was paid for by hunters and shooters. The Game and Parks Commission obtained the money from a pool of federal excise taxes on archery equipment, firearms and ammunition.

“Callers want to know what’s it going to cost to use this facility? My reply to each individual is you’ve already paid for it,” said Jeff Rawlinson, assistant administrator of the commission’s information and education division.

The free range will be open from sunrise to sunset on a first-come basis. Organizers hope it will get regular use, especially from young archers who have learned to shoot courtesy of the Archery in the Schools Program. Last year, an estimated 20,000 Nebraska students participated in the indoor archery program taught in physical education classes, Rawlinson said.

On hand for Thursday’s dedication were Lincoln Mayor Coleen Seng and former mayor Helen Boosalis, the park’s namesake.

“This is a perfect example of what happens when you pool your resources and funding and come up with something that wouldn't happen otherwise,” Seng said.

The mayor said she believes the range will attract archery tournaments, which will bring more visitors and their dollars to Lincoln.

The audience for the dedication consisted of adult archers who helped with the range design and state and city staff who completed the construction.

The commission designed the range using national safety standards. They also posted safety rules that will prevent accidents as long as they’re followed.

Mikah Flamig, a Dawes 6th-grader, said she’ll gladly follow any rules for an opportunity to shoot more often.

“I’m happy they made it.”

Reach Joe Duggan at 473-7239 or jduggan@journalstar.com.