In the wake of a safety evaluation that led to the suspension of live fire at the 61-year-old shooting range in Cape Elizabeth, the Spurwink Rod & Gun Club has been awarded a $10,000 grant to help enhance safety on the property.

Club president Tammy Walter announced in a press release Wednesday that a national fundraising group called Friends of the NRA issued the grant to the club on July 31, one week after the town’s police chief ordered the club to cease live gunfire. According to Walter, grant funds will pay for the erection of an additional concrete shot containment wall, and to add more ballistic sand and vegetative cover to the range.

Several safety deficiencies were found by Georgia-based safety evaluator, Rick LaRosa, during his inspection of the property in May, including a lack of structures to prevent stray bullets from leaving the range. The town hired LaRosa to perform the inspection as part of an annual licensing process required under the town’s first-ever shooting range ordinance adopted by councilors in March 2014.

“With this generous grant and the continuing efforts of the club membership, the Spurwink Rod & Gun Club can continue to enhance safety of our club through shot containment,” Walter said.

LaRosa, of R Design Works in Kennesaw, Ga., is scheduled to give the council a summary of his 17-page report during its meeting Monday at 7 p.m. Walter said that the club has completed several safety improvements at the shooting range since LaRosa last visited the property.

“The conclusion of this report does state that our club shooting area is suitable for live-fire operations with additional safety mechanisms in place, and this grant provides the financial means to further our efforts,” she said.

On behalf of the club, Walter said she wanted to thank the town for its efforts and others who have expressed their support during this challenging time, including grant writer Richard Aspinall, a highly respected and dedicated club member.

“Richard worked tirelessly on this grant, and we owe it all to him,” said Walter. “We look forward to the day when the club can reopen and continue its many good works and be a source of pride for the community,” she said.

See the Aug. 13 issue of the Current for more on this story.