By Pat Culverhouse
Archers from across the nation will draw their bows beginning Wednesday April 24 and continuing through the Sunday the 28th when the Easton Hoyt Pro/Am Archery Shooters Association sets its sights on Camp Minden for its pro/am event.
In addition to the Camp Minden events, a professional shootout will be held at the Bossier Civic Center on Saturday, April 27, at 3 p.m.
Supporters of the event, which will mark the third consecutive visit to Camp Minden, include the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission in partnership with the Louisiana National Guard and Webster Parish Police Jury.
Also, the Bossier Parish Police Jury, city of Bossier City, Caddo Parish Commission, city of Shreveport, Louisiana Office of Tourism and the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Commission.
Tournament organizers said last year’s pro/am tour event secured a $2.5M direct economic impact for Shreveport-Bossier due to added visitor spending. Competitors traveled from 41 states and two foreign countries, with 90 percent of visitors in attendance hailing from out-of-state locations.
“Hosting this event for the third consecutive year allows Shreveport-Bossier and surrounding communities to highlight our region as a premier travel destination for out-of-state visitors,” said Stacy Brown, CEO and president, of Visit Shreveport-Bossier. “Securing these significant events brings a beneficial economic boost to our local area.”
Significant enhancements have been made to facilities and infrastructure in preparation for the upcoming 4-day event. On the ranges, 100 additional lanes have been cut and two access roads have been constructed to improve accessibility.
Three ranges have been upgraded for enhanced safety measures, and more than 600 lanes were cleared of debris and growth. Drainage improvements have also been implemented, and range roads have been surfaced with rocks to enhance stability.
Parking areas have been expanded to accommodate more participants and spectators. Additionally, freshwater points and sanitation dump stations have been completed to meet the needs of attendees. Permanent power and water lines have been added to the tournament village, along with updating the internet connectivity for improved communication and operations during the event.
Updates to the staging area also add value to the ongoing efforts of Camp Minden’s role to provide support during any state of emergency.
The public is invited to attend all events free of charge. Camp Minden is located one mile off I-20 at the Goodwill Rd. exit between Shreveport-Bossier City and Minden. Driver of the vehicle must present a driver’s license to enter the site.
Please read Wednesday’s edition of the Webster Parish Journal for a complete schedule of events.
