Neenah to convert former firing range to new park

NEENAH - A piece of land which the Neenah Police Department once used as a gun range will soon be a public park.

The site is located off County Highway JJ in Clayton.

But there is one thing that absolutely must be removed from the ground before plans can proceed.

For the past five decades, officers from the Neenah Police Department have honed their skills at a pistol range on the edge of town.

John and Inez Noffke owned the land, but let the police practice for free. But the Noffkes passed away years ago. And according to their wishes, the land would be donated to the Town of Clayton to become a park.

"When the town electors authorized to accept the property as a park, one of the requirements that they put on it, is the lead from the gun range be removed," said Richard Johnston, Town of Clayton Administrator.

Fifty years of shooting, have left their mark. The City of Neenah has agreed to remove the lead bullets from the backstop berm. Initial costs are around $75,000.

"There's companies out there that pick the lead out, and actually pay the city, and we're trying to work with one of those companies, and hopefully, if we get a good deal, maybe the clean up will pay for itself, or we can actually make a little profit on this," said Lieutenant Jeff Malcore, Neenah Police Department.

Town officials say the site will be what they call a passive park.

"It's not going to be fully developed with playground equipment and those types of activities, for the time-being. The most we might have at some point is a parking area off of JJ," said Johnston.

The police will have to find a new place to practice, but officers say they are grateful for the years they had on the range.

"50 years, they never charged us anything. It was just a very generous deal the family did for the city," said Malcore.

And people in the area will soon have a new park.

"It will add to the quality of life, to the ability and the resources that are available to the residents in the area," said Johnston.

Officials from the City of Neenah have asked for more time to figure out a plan to get the lead out. 

Officials in the Town of Clayton say they want the land cleaned up by May of 2014.