Wisconsin City Bans Archery In Archery Park

Wisconsin's Archery Park may need a name change. How about No-Archery Park?

When Tom Draper went to the park for some practice, he was surprised to find a sign that cited a city ordinance prohibiting bows and arrows.

"Several archers that I've talked to are kind of in disbelief," Draper says, who along with his bowhunting friends have practiced archery at the park for more than 20 years.

The park is next to the Eau Claire River, and the city had developed earthen berms and even an archery tower for deer hunters to practice shooting from a platform.

But Parks Superintendent Phil Johnson says the wooded hillsides that helped provide barriers to arrows flying out of the park weren't enough.

He says the rules changed in September when a neighbor complained of finding an arrow in his yard. Johnson says it was the latest of several similar complaints from neighbors over 15 years or more.

"Everybody's been most gracious about it up to this point, but the person has a legitimate concern," Johnson said.

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