It’s really not just a huge pile of dirt. That huge mound of dirt located just north of the Larned State Correctional Facility actually will serve as the backstop at the new shooting range under construction there.
Since their inception in 1991, quality firearms instruction, practice and testing has had to be done off campus. For a number of years the Great Bend Police allowed the Correctional Facility (LSCF) to use their range for instruction and testing, though it was 25 miles away. After that became too busy, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office shared their training facility with LSCF but due to lots of travel, over 35 miles, complications arising from too many agencies using the same facility and lost man-hours, it finally became necessary for LSCF to plan for their own site. It was approved in their budget for 2026 and construction is now underway.
Initially the site chosen was farther to the east of the proposed site but, due to being in a flood plain, that location had to be altered and the current site, straight north of the LSCF and south across the road from the Pawnee County Humane Society.
Warden Tim Easley stated, “From the beginning we had to be sensitive to the needs of the Humane Society facility. They have animals there that the noise could affect and we wanted to work with them on that. It is not something that is going to be in use frequently but, still, we want to be good neighbors. In addition, we are going to plant a row of trees between the shooting range and the roadway to help reduce sound travel. After the shooting range is in operation we will continue to dialogue with the Humane Society to address any concerns that may occur.”
The shooting range will be in use only two or three days a month and only a few hours at a time. Staff training occurs just two months out of the year, April and September, totaling approximately 14-15 days.
Eventually LSCF wants to construct a small building on the grounds to be used as a classroom for training. This year, construction will be limited to moving a lot of dirt, some concrete work and constructing fencing around the facility.
Finally, after 35 years, LSCF will have their own facility to train employees, teach gun safety and provide a place to practice like other Kansas Department Of Correction facilities have.
