Committee recommends ‘Swanson Archery Range’ name

NEW LONDON – The New London Parks and Recreation Committee has recommended that the newly constructed archery range in the city of New London be named Swanson Archery Range, after Colton Swanson who built the archery range for an Eagle Scout project.

The recommendation came at the committee’s Oct. 6 meeting. The recommendation included an understanding that placards would be added to the archery range to recognize all those who donated to the project. In addition, the committee recommended that the pavilion at the archery range be named Lautenschlager Pavilion and that the parcel of land that the archery range and New London Jaycees Dog Park are located in be named Eagle Park.

A public hearing is scheduled to be held at the November Parks and Recreation Committee meeting to allow the public to provide input about the recommended names. The names will then go before the New London Common Council for approval. 

At the Oct. 6 committee meeting, Ginger Sowle, director of the New London Parks & Recreation Department, led off the discussion by informing the committee that the construction of the archery range did earn Colton Swanson Eagle Scout honors.

With the completion of the archery range, Sowle told the committee that there are now two amenities in one park – the New London Jaycees Dog Park and the archery range. She said when the address is entered in Google, it brings up information about the Jaycees Dog Park.

“I think that it would be appropriate to name this parcel a park name,” Sowle said. “…I think it would be helpful for people coming into the area to know that they’re going to a place that is a dog park and an archery range, so that would be a different name for the parcel.”

Sowle told the committee that the city of New London does have a facility naming policy. She added that since Swanson built the archery range, she wanted the committee to hear his suggested names.

Swanson said a major donor to the archery range project was Lindsey Lautenschlager. He suggested naming the archery range Lautenschlager Archery or Lautenschlager Range. In addition, Swanson suggested naming the entire parcel of land that contains the Jaycees Dog Park and the archery range – Eagle Park.

“I think that would be pretty fitting since there’s three Eagle Scout projects in the one parcel – the dog park shelter, the dog park donor board, and then, also the archery range now,” Swanson said.

Committee Chairman Ald. Robert Besaw suggested naming the park Eagle, Dog, and Archery Park.

Ald. John Hass asked if naming the archery range Lautenschlager Range would diminish the contributions provided by other donors. He asked if including Boys Scouts in the name would be appropriate.

Swanson said he’d prefer not to have Boy Scouts in the name, adding that all the donors would be recognized at the site with a metal placard. He said if the archery range cannot be named Lautenschlager Range, maybe the shooting platform within the range could be named after Lautenschlager.

Ald. David Dorsey said since it was Swanson’s project, he should be allowed to provide the name for the archery range.

“If you feel they deserve the name, then why would we stop it?” Dorsey said.

Sowle told the committee that the Safari Club also would need to be recognized since it provided a big donation, and plans to donate annually.

Dorsey asked Swanson for his opinion on naming the archery range – Swanson Range.

“I wouldn’t mind Swanson Range, but it doesn’t matter,” Swanson said. “I will be having a plaque that goes on there. It will say, ‘This is an Eagle Scout project created by Colton Swanson.’”

Dorsey suggested naming the archery range – Swanson Range.

New London Mayor Mark Herter suggest adding “archery” to the name to make it Swanson Archery Range.