Question About Detecting in Parks

[jakechiro]

Hi, I have made a few phone calls about going to some of the local parks around here to do some coin hunting. Every park that I contacted told me that it was illegal to bring my metal detector to the park and hunt. Since I live in a very urban area, the parks are pretty much my only option to hunt with the limited time I have. Any suggestions on how to convince them that I am a ethical hunter and will not only fill my holes very well but will take out trash in the process. Any help on this or other places I may be overlooking will be really helpful. Thanks for all of the wonderful pictures yall are posting, it keeps my motivated!

Jake

 

[Ralph Bryant]

Jake,

If it's "illegal" then it's ILLEGAL. Not much you will be able to do to convince a park supervisor or attendant to make an exception for you. Best thing would be to forget about the parks (if it really is illegal....might want to check local ordinances rather than just taking someone's word for it), and maybe look at local schools, churchyards, ask permission around old buildings or houses, vacant lots, gathering places around creeks or rivers, lakeshores, around sidewalks, telephone booths, fairgrounds, etc. There are alot of possibilities out there to keep you busy.

Ralph

 

[Uncle Willy]

What kind of place makes it illegal to hunt in a public park. "Public" is the key word. I think he got ahold of some Yuppie egghead who probably doesn't know what time it is. I'm sure there are places like that but I have hunted in several states and never ran into that obstacle. I would go check the parks out. If they ain't posted in regards to detectors then I would have at it. If it's illegal then it must be posted as such.

There's always the schools, sports fields, carnival and fair grounds, churches ( permission usually required but I have hunted some without ), recreation areas, etc.

Bill

 

[Spanky]

Man...... I feel for yeah bud.

All the parks in my area are ok to detect. In fact they like it because we clean them up.It only takes one bad apple to ruin it though. I've lost count how many times I've cleaned up someone elses mess or gapping holes.

Could be that they had some bad experiences in the past. It may be one of thoses situations where you may have to change your strategy's.
Is there any beaches in the area or a swimming hole ? Ever try checking out a bus stop? Schools are great areas to check out. Parking lots can be very productive if grass or sand. If you look back a few pages you will see an excellent list of where to go.
Keep your hopes up...just change your strategy.

 

[ohio fred]

The county parks around here you have to have a permit,they are free but for insurance purpose and damage they have you sign.You need to call the main park ranger headquarters and ask and ask why not if you get turned down and ask who you contact after him,so you can try and change it .Everything public is paid mostly by tax dollars.hope something works out.I go to the park and dogs crapping everywhere{i own two and cat and turtle]Lot of people don't pick it up.People playing football baseball skateboarding riding bikes,throwing litter everywhere running all over the grass,its OK but walk in with metal detector and they think your the Antichrist or on those line depends on your religion.Hope it changes for good luck good hunting.

 

[Dick from IA]

[quote Uncle Willy]What kind of place makes it illegal to hunt in a public park. "Public" is the key word. If they ain't posted in regards to detectors then I would have at it. If it's illegal then it must be posted as such.


Bill[/quote]

I have debated on contacting our city about public parks, but if I do no doubt that same Yuppie Egghead will be there to say no. I have been in several city parks, and had police drive by often, so maybe it's OK.

It would be more comfortable with permission, but again Parks Dept's should be responsible enough to post what is prohibited, other than Keg Beer and ATV's. That's about it for signage at our parks, other than the park hours.

If they knew how much junk, including can-slaw is in the playground woodchips, they would welcome detectorists. In fact, I warn children's parents about what barefoot kid's could encounter, and then I show them the proof. The shoes go back on right away!

Just my thoughts

 

[Uncle Willy]

I would just have at it. The most they can do is ask you to leave. If it ain't posted they don't have much to stand on. Contact them ( or specifically the egghead )and have them send you a copy of the ordinance prohibiting detecting in city parks. Whatta ya bet egghead can't produce one.

Me I never deal with the underlings, I go right to the top. Drop the mayor or whoever runs the city a professional letter regarding the matter. One thing about going to the top the only direction the sh%t has to go is back down the ladder and right on the head of the offending idiot.

I just got through dealing with the cubicle idiots at AOL who were giving me a raft of crap and trying to collect money I didn't owe for two extra ISP accounts I didn't have. After putting up with their idiocy and annoying phone calls for a short spell I dropped a letter to the CEO of AOL and all of a sudden the annoying idiots evaporated into nowhere, the phone calls stopped, and the problem disappeared instantly.

The people at the top are just people, nobody special, and they usually don't have a clue whats going on down at the bottom of the food chain where all the lemmings spend their every waking moment trying to stay out of sight and not to be noticed and covering each other's butts daily and just taking up space and drawing a paycheck and praying everyday that no one discovers that they don't have a clue as to what they are doing. That's the way America operates. HA.

Bill

 

[jakechiro]

Thanks for the tips. I read the park rules and regulations and it doesn't say anything at all about metal detectors. Anyway I will try a couple of vacant lots next door to me, they just cleared them and now it is about 3/4 of an acre bare in the suburbs. Hope it is hiding some good stuff!

Jake

 

[BigCatDaddy]

I would print out a copy of the Park Rules and carry them with me when I hunt. If someone sez anything to you, produce the rules and ask them to show you where the No Detecting rule is. I had a county park ranger here tell me the same thing and was asked to leave and after re-checking the park rules, no mention of detecting was in there, one way or the other. I always carry the rules with me when I hunt the county parks so that the next time I run into a ranger I can show him the rules and ask which of those rules relate to detecting a soccer field. They do have rules against digging for artifacts and historic stuff, listing arrow heads and such, but I can't believe that relates to popping clad and jewelry. Now if it's a State or Federal Park, don't even think about hunting without express written permission.
Good luck and happy hunting!!

 

[jakechiro]

I just sent an email to the head of the park authority in my area and asked her to send me a copy of the park regulations with the part that says metal detecting is illegal in a public park. So we will see if she can produce this or not.

Jake

 

[Ralph Bryant]

Some of these park authority types remind me of some grouchy old lady who calls the cops every time the neighborhood kids are "playing too loud".

"Those kids are just having TOO MUCH FUN, and somebody needs to put a stop to it RIGHT NOW !!"



Don't let 'em buffalo ya, or make up their own rules as they go. I would bet in most cases, there is no such law on the books.

Ralph

 

[jakechiro]

"

 

[Ralph Bryant]

Check to see if such permission has ever been granted to other persons for detecting those parks. If so, and if they DENY you permission, you have good cause to file an equal protection complaint. Whether it is worth the hassle or not is up to you.

Ralph

 

[ace250semo]

Jake, Park hunting is great, we have a multitude of local parks here, but we are in the rural area of our state, the big difference between this and your situation is of course, the legality of filing suit, for injuries you may incur during your hunting. I have to agree with the suggestion, of sending the Mayor or Higher Park Authority, a letter of intent, explaining your reasoning for detecting, a.e. hobby, the fact that you are willing to sign a release form, if they have one, to protect them from any liabilities, ( other then their lawfully required responsibilities)....and add your intention on respecting the property and surrounding facilities, maybe this will get their attention. With the world moving in a sue or be sued direction, it really scares the city folk, so just to be on the safe side, submit a letter and see what happens. Jack.

 

[robocoin]

If they don't want metal detecting @ parks they need to post signs. I hunt mine here in Lexington Ky and don't give a rat's *** , park people are always driving up in there little golf carts and watching me. I probably have hunted in excess of a hundred different times. If it's public I'm hunting it. Schools especially. HH

 

[jakechiro]

Thanks, I never thought of that. The park authority said they are sending my request to the Director and that he will make the final decision. I will inform them of the waiver of responsibility on their part.

Jake

 

[Garry/OH]

Hey Fred...I've hunted all the parks around here for a long time and have never had a problem. One day when I was hunting, I looked up and a City policeman was standing next to me...I thought maybe it was illegal after all...took my headphones off and he put his hand out and introduced himself and said he was interested in finding out where I bought my digger. He owned an Explorer and we talked about detecting for awhile...then he went back to work, and I went back to Anyway, I almost never see anyone else detecting the parks...guys have often come up to me and asked if I was finding anything, and are usually amazed to hear that I had found silver. The old detectorists always say the same thing...."this park has been hunted out for a long time". And they are actually right, as far as the silver...almost never find silver quarters in the parks....you can find silver dimes, old nickles, and IH's....but the quarters have been dug. The parks are always good places to try and get to know a detector though...all kinds of ground, trash, etc....but no problems hunting here in central Ohio.

 

[Uncle Willy]

That should be interesting.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah it's just some cubicle Yuppie bureaucrat trying to bully someone around with his/her dollar ninety eight cents worth of authority and express their insignificant and miniscule speck of importance. They're everywhere.

Bill

 

[jakechiro]

She actually showed me this: