WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County’s only public shooting range may have a date for reopening.

In a presentation to the Whatcom County Council’s Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, Parks Director Bennett Knox gave an update on the Plantation Shooting Range.

My Bellingham Now previously reported that Plantation was closed in July 2021 for upgrades as well as ecological cleanup of the outdoor range.

Knox now says the indoor range is set to open softly for law enforcement beginning January 2026 and will open to the public that March.

He adds that though they have a timeline for the indoor range, the outdoor range is looking at a longer and less predictable timeline.

“We’ve had some delays with Ecology,” he said. “I think the short answer is, whereas we had thought initially we were looking at maybe [2026], and I think the last time we came we were looking at [2027]. We may be looking at [2028] before we’re able to move forward with actual clean up activities. I think on the positive side there, that does give a little breathing room on the refund.”

The state Department of Ecology determined that the outdoor range was a necessary site for cleanup after samples showed dangerous levels of lead on the outdoor range floor.