As part of the Grand Opening dedication ceremony, local clubs will provide sport shooting demonstrations and a tour of the new facility.  The dedication ceremony is open to the public and Trail Glades Range will be opened for shooting practice immediately following the close of the ceremony.

The renovation consisted of significant improvements to enhance the safety and best management compliance of the rifle and pistol shooting range.  The project included the demolition and complete replacement of the shooting-range firing line and canopy cover, replacing it with a new shooting range firing line and roof structure.  This roof structure has an integrated "No Blue Sky" baffling feature, ceiling fans, and an augmented sound system.  The project also included new furnishings, such as rifle/pistol shooting benches providing 68 target positions in total.  There are new rifle racks, benches and tables for resting, and new target holders with marked numbering representing each shooting position and installed in fixed locations at the seven, 15, 25 and 50-yard positions on the pistol side, and at the 25, 50, 75 and 100-yard positions on the rifle side, preventing the positioning of targets in the wrong locations.  New side, wire-mesh screens were installed between each pistol line.  The project scope also included all construction-related site and electrical work required to complete the renovation.

Total project cost was $1,080,200 funded by the Building Better Communities Bond Program (GOB). 

"This project has been the cumulative effort of a dedicated task force comprised of range users working closely with us," said Jack Kardys, Director of Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department.  "These improvements not only enhance the safety of the range, but will continue to draw existing and new patrons to this already very popular park," he added.

"The improvements at Trail Glades Range will continue to uphold the award-winning standards of our County Parks' recreational activities," said Vice-Chairman Jose "Pepe" Diaz. "Working together with our Parks Director, we were able to secure the GOB funds to enhance this great facility for our residents, and I'm extremely excited to finally see it completed," he added.

Miami-Dade Parks, a three-time National Gold Medal Award (AAPRA and NRPA) winner, Florida Governor's 2009 Sterling Award winner, and an accredited agency, is the third largest park system in the United States, consisting of 262 parks and more than 12,668 acres of land.  It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the nation.  Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises after-school, sports-development and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; arts and culture programs and events; environmental restoration efforts; Miami MetroZoo and Deering Estate; Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Ericsson Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; and more.  The Miami-Dade Parks mission is to create outstanding recreational, natural and cultural experiences to enrich you and to enhance the quality of life for our community for this and future generations.
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