♪♪ [birds chirping] ♪♪ [Kohlsdorf] People traveling on highway 34 can find plenty of ways to stretch their legs at Three Mile Lake Recreation Area.

[Mike Hilger] So when people come here, most of them come to fish, camp or hunt.

[Kohlsdorf] Built in 1995, the primary function of Three Mile Lake is a water resource for surrounding communities.

The recreation area stretches over 2,600 acres, making it the largest in Union County.

[Mike Hilger] But the main reason this was built was for drinking water and flood control.

[birds chirping] [Mike Hilger] But all the recreation is just an added benefit.

If you like a good place to go fishing, hunting, bird watching, hiking, anything like that, it's a pretty good place to come.

♪♪ [Girl] Pull.

[gunshot fires] ♪♪ [Kohlsdorf] On the north side of the lake, travelers who like standing at the firing line or letting the arrows fly can sharpen their skills at the High Lakes Outdoor Alliance.

[Tom Lesan] You know, anything outdoors is sort of our motto.

♪♪ [Kohlsdorf] The High Lakes Outdoor Alliance is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to promote and enhance access to outdoor activities in Union and surrounding counties.

[Tom Lesan] We would do banquets and raise funds, and those that dollar amount would then come back, stay in the county and like buy walleyes at Green Valley.

We would do things to get people to come here to recreate.

So fishing jetties, cabins, that kind of things is what we were doing.

And then we came up with the ideas that we all shot.

We all liked to shoot and there's not a range close.

♪♪ [Mike Hilger] They're about the best friends group a person could ask for because when you when I write grants for certain stuff like a shelter house or the sidewalks at our new cabins or literally anything they usually pitch in a little bit on everything we do, which helps grants go further because you're partnering with people.

[Kohlsdorf] The alliance also promotes youth activity in sport, shooting and archery as a way to get kids outdoors.

[Isabele Mohr] My older brother is both really started it.

My oldest brother started it when he was in sixth grade and then my other brother, he started it when he was in fourth grade too, and I kind of watched them shoot and I thought it'd be fun, so I decided to try it out.

♪♪ [Lindsey Mohr] The High Lakes was founded basically to help our community and help our kids specifically have something to do, have somewhere to go.

[Girl] Pull.

[Lindsey Mohr] So we really just opened to help get kids interested, help get kids outdoors, you know, help them just really explore.

♪♪ [Kohlsdorf] Whether you're looking for a tranquil spot to fish -- ♪♪ [Kohlsdorf] Or a place to sharpen your aim -- ♪♪ [Kohlsdorf] Three Mile Lake on Highway 34 has you covered.

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