I've been researching range building and been an RSO, and I think a lot of improvements can be done at Koko Head. This is actually a good time to do this as we are in a 2a friendly environment (nationally), economy is up in the state, and we have a 2a friendly mayor. We can look at how mainland public ranges are run (like Clark County range in Nevada) and our local golf courses.
Some stuff I brainstormed that we'd need:
1. Funding
a. Raise funds - Charge fees for KHSC use, ($10 to $20). This seems to be the norm for ranges and can fund improvements and better maintenance by bringing in a few thousand dollars each week. Add in commercial sales like a food vendor, pro shop, and advertising and that's a bit more money. Also seek out donors and grants. City can also sell bonds to help with the initial improvements. They should also be recycling the brass, lead and copper too.
b. Ensure fees raised at KHSC stay at KHSC. Park fees normally go into the city general fund so the city council would have to pass something that exempts KHSC.
c. Ensure city funding to KHSC is maintained. So that funds raised at KHSC can go towards funding improvements.
2. Gun Owners Support
a. Grass roots and phone trees.
b. Getting people who own guns, but don't shoot them, to shoot them.
c. promote shooting for women and youths.
d. Uniting all groups of shooters (hunters, military, LE, rec, etc) to one cause.
3. Community Support
a. Promote at community events (fairs, neighborhood boards, etc)
b. media advertising
c. articles on shooting events in the news/newspapers/internet
d. promote firearms for self defense use
e. promote guns for sporting use
f. support from non-shooting groups ie tourism board, women's groups.
4. Political Support
a. Range day for the politicians. Most politicians do not shoot guns, but I'd guess most have played golf. Maybe that's why we have a lot of golf courses?
b. Tie it in to tourism or revenue generation somehow?
5. Vision for KHSC
a. Classroom space and concessions. There's a lot of vacant space in the center for a visitors center, classrooms, and vendors. Could even build another outdoor baffled range on the western end of the park that can be used strictly for classes.
b. Renovate or rebuild the existing structures.
c. Pistol. Remove half of the berms/benches on the bullseye pistol side to allow for placing targets at various distances.
d. Rifle. Split the rifle side in half. One half is for short range rifle/shotgun for 5 to 100 yards. The other half for 100+ yard targets. Could probably go out to at least 300 yards.
e. Bays. Build covered structures for the bays as a rest/briefing area. Install lighting for night shooting. Pave road and increase parking spaces. Install target turners.
f. Shotgun.....
g. Silhouette...
6. Safety
a. Build walls and install baffles to prevent rounds from leaving the ranges.
b. Improve and maintain berms.
c. require watching a short video on safety, rules, and procedures on the initial visit.
d. Safety will be enhanced by building a classroom where people can take firearms courses.
7. Promoting KHSC