Clearwater Police are vowing to make changes to a recently reopened firing range after several neighbors complained about excessive noise.
"It's loud and in this neighborhood it echos," said Karen Modzelewski. "Sometimes you can't tell where it's coming from."
Threatening pops cut through the air as gunshots can be heard outside homes south of State Road 580 and McMullen Booth Road.
Many neighbors in the area have complained about the noise continuing into the night, frightening some children.
CPD tells ABC Action News, the range is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. They add firearms training typically ends before 8 p.m.
"One neighbor said that her son thought the guns were getting closer, so there are some kids asking questions about it," said Modzelewski.
The Clearwater Police Firing Range was shut down for a year during a $2 million renovation.
Police say they've received a handful of complaints about the noise since reopening the outdoor range in September.
"And since the range has reopened, we've been having a lot of qualifying, a lot of firearms training going on out here," said CPD spokesman, Rob Shaw. "Including doing AR-15 rifles, which are a lot louder."
The range is lined in many areas with sound-deafening foam.
ABC Action News has learned, city officials met at the range Thursday to brainstorm more improvement options.
The Clearwater Police Department will soon add floor-to-ceiling sound barriers on posts, above the targets, and exposed concrete above existing foam.
Modzelewski says she supports Clearwater Police training and understands how vital it is to protect her community.
"That makes me so happy and I knew that the Clearwater PD would find some way to solve it," said Modzelewski.
