Find's Treasure Forums

Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!

You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.

Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.

Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.

Click here to register!



Need Support Help?

Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you

Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.

LARGE CITY PARK vs. SMALL GHETTO PARK.

CoinShooter01

Well-known member
The city I live in requires a permit to metal detect.
$15 for my choice of 3 parks.
We have about 15 parks to choose from....

I always choose 2 of the largest, most frequented parks, then 1 wild card.

One of the parks I choose, is over 150 acres, lots of visitors
The second park is aprox. 100 acres, again, lots of visitors.
The 3rd park is my wild card.

To be honest, the 2 large parks keep me busy, and I seldom hunt a 3rd park.

Last year, for my 3rd pick, I choose a very small park, on the poor side of town.
When I say poor, I mean, really small park and in the ghetto.

I believe I have recovered more $$$ in the small, poor park, than I have either of the 2 large , frequented parks.
Ive seldom seen another person detecting any of the parks, so Ive ruled that out.

The permit is valid from Jan. 1st, until the end of the year.
Its that time of year again, to apply for my permit.
This time, I believe Im going to get 2 permits, (6 parks) and choose more small, low income, ghetto parks.

I find it unusual, but thats my 2023 strategy!

More small parks!
 
I do.
Small 410 revolver.
Wouldnt want to litter the park with spent brass.

IMG_4441.JPG
 
Last edited:
Good strategy, noticed that this summer myself and really cleaned up. Biggest problem was watching the vehicle. Often would see cars trolling near mine and pull away, then return shortly and troll the other side. My truck has a shell w/ curtains and they were scoping to see if Anyone was in the back I think. And yes I pack. Always park in the open so u can view your vehicle at all times. Also I have a road cam and once this summer I got so fed up I went to the truck and when the car had pulled to the opposite end of the parking lot, I pulled up behind him so the camera could get his car and plate. He backed up and left. I followed him out of the Parking lot with the camera recording. He turned right and I turned left and went directly to the Police and reported the vehicle. It’s good to have a record of suspicious activity I figure.
Jerry.
 
The city I live in requires a permit to metal detect.
$15 for my choice of 3 parks.
We have about 15 parks to choose from....

I always choose 2 of the largest, most frequented parks, then 1 wild card.

One of the parks I choose, is over 150 acres, lots of visitors
The second park is aprox. 100 acres, again, lots of visitors.
The 3rd park is my wild card.

To be honest, the 2 large parks keep me busy, and I seldom hunt a 3rd park.

Last year, for my 3rd pick, I choose a very small park, on the poor side of town.
When I say poor, I mean, really small park and in the ghetto.

I believe I have recovered more $$$ in the small, poor park, than I have either of the 2 large , frequented parks.
Ive seldom seen another person detecting any of the parks, so Ive ruled that out.

The permit is valid from Jan. 1st, until the end of the year.
Its that time of year again, to apply for my permit.
This time, I believe Im going to get 2 permits, (6 parks) and choose more small, low income, ghetto parks.

I find it unusual, but thats my 2023 strategy!

More small parks!
I’m curious as to what the rules and regulations are that come with your permit.
 
I have detected a small city park in a black community. By the time I get my equipment out of the car a resident asks what are you doing. When I tell him he says Okay. I just like to keep an eye on things. I say good and thank him. Makes me feel safer To know he will not tolerate any trouble.
 
I’m curious as to what the rules and regulations are that come with your permit.
Its a 3 page document, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Simple park etiquite rules, that should really be utilized in any park, with or without a permit.
Fill your holes, park not responsible for damage/injury, etc.
Basic common sense, which I always use.

When the city first implemented the permit process, I felt it was sort of a negative thing.
Taxation upon taxation.
I had never, ever, ever, been hassled before, and felt like it was probably unnecessary.
But I obliged, and as time goes on, I actually prefer it, and here is why:

Earlier this year, (June 2022 ?) I had 1 park police officer (rookie maybe?) fly up on me, in a 2000 lb. SUV, drive across several hunderd feet of the manicured park grass, to the spot where I was detecting.
He jumped out, and immediantly told me that metal detecting was PHOHIBITED IN PARK!
No ifs, ands, or but's about it...Just Metal detecting is "PHOHIBITED IN PARK" ...PERIOD.
I kept my cool, and said "Really?!".
Absolutely PHOHIBITED IN PARK he said.

I quickly explained how the agency that he works for, just a few months prior, had no problem accepting my $15, and issued me a permit, which says differently!
He seemed confused about the permit process, and asked to see my permit, which I did not (at the time) carry on me, because the woman that issued the permit, told me that was not necessary.
He changed his tune slightly, and explained that until I could provide proof of permit, I needed to quit metal detecting...
Luckily for me, I had also taken a photo of the permit, and had my phone nearby.
So I retreived my phone, showed him the photo of permit, which showed the validation dates, and was told ":good luck, and have a great day".

I then asked him to walk over to a trash can in the park.
There I showed him a handfull of trash that I had found, removed, and disposed of, including 2 hypodermic needles.
At the end of the day, I believe I demonstrated that metal detecting in a city park, is positive, and can be beneficial to society as a whole.

In the years past, the only encounters with park police I ever had, were few and far between, and always positive with them being only interested in what kind of items I was finding.
Never hasseled or asked for a permit, in any way.
To be honest, this park police officer, in my opinion, was simply uneducated, and had no idea, that a permit was even available that allowed metal detecting.
 
I bet s small park gets as many visitors per acre as a large park. But the drops are are more concentrated in a small area thus less space between targets. Parks are interesting. Just when you think "nothing left" you can get a surprise. In my area I can get aerial photos of the neighborhoods dating back into the 1940's. That helps locate old trails pavilions and baseball diamonds where traffic was high. It also seems big old trees are areas that people used for shade. I remember a gate to an old football field had an amazing amount of coins because of ticket booth.
Use your Imagination for what once was
 
Believe it or not, Ive learned to embrace the permit, and the $15 fee that is attached!

There was another time, where I was told by a woman ( Ill call her Karen), walking in our city park, that I probably should NOT be "Doing That" in the park!
I smiled, and explained that I had a permit for "Doing That"!

There are many more small parks, outside my city, that my permit does not apply to.
This is unknown territory.
I have, to some degree, researched the rules to all these small parks, and Im not sure exactly, what their rules are.
Making phone calls, and sending e-mails, would probably raise unnecessary red flags.
Before digging, I research their web site, search for metal detecting rules, and if I see none, I assume its probably ok to detect.
I just to leave the park in better shape than it was before my arrival, and of coarse, fill all holes.

In these small, out of town parks, with no clear rules, it would be peace of mind, to have a definative answer, one way or another.
As a last resort, Id take a small permit fee, over a large "no metal detecting sign", any day of the week.
 
I bet s small park gets as many visitors per acre as a large park. But the drops are are more concentrated in a small area thus less space between targets. Parks are interesting. Just when you think "nothing left" you can get a surprise. In my area I can get aerial photos of the neighborhoods dating back into the 1940's. That helps locate old trails pavilions and baseball diamonds where traffic was high. It also seems big old trees are areas that people used for shade. I remember a gate to an old football field had an amazing amount of coins because of ticket booth.
Use your Imagination for what once was
I like your thinking.
Ive recently discovered these old aerial photograph web sites that you mention.
Thats another interestng hobby, in itself...
A while back,I spent several hours, trying to overlay old aerial photos, on top of a modern photos.
I need to spend more time with it.
A nearby college offers a short class on the topic.
I need to experiment more, but it seems like a wonderful way to get out of the park, and discover new areas to gain permissions, that would probably be very lucrative.
 
Its a 3 page document, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Simple park etiquite rules, that should really be utilized in any park, with or without a permit.
Fill your holes, park not responsible for damage/injury, etc.
Basic common sense, which I always use.

When the city first implemented the permit process, I felt it was sort of a negative thing.
Taxation upon taxation.
I had never, ever, ever, been hassled before, and felt like it was probably unnecessary.
But I obliged, and as time goes on, I actually prefer it, and here is why:

Earlier this year, (June 2022 ?) I had 1 park police officer (rookie maybe?) fly up on me, in a 2000 lb. SUV, drive across several hunderd feet of the manicured park grass, to the spot where I was detecting.
He jumped out, and immediantly told me that metal detecting was PHOHIBITED IN PARK!
No ifs, ands, or but's about it...Just Metal detecting is "PHOHIBITED IN PARK" ...PERIOD.
I kept my cool, and said "Really?!".
Absolutely PHOHIBITED IN PARK he said.

I quickly explained how the agency that he works for, just a few months prior, had no problem accepting my $15, and issued me a permit, which says differently!
He seemed confused about the permit process, and asked to see my permit, which I did not (at the time) carry on me, because the woman that issued the permit, told me that was not necessary.
He changed his tune slightly, and explained that until I could provide proof of permit, I needed to quit metal detecting...
Luckily for me, I had also taken a photo of the permit, and had my phone nearby.
So I retreived my phone, showed him the photo of permit, which showed the validation dates, and was told ":good luck, and have a great day".

I then asked him to walk over to a trash can in the park.
There I showed him a handfull of trash that I had found, removed, and disposed of, including 2 hypodermic needles.
At the end of the day, I believe I demonstrated that metal detecting in a city park, is positive, and can be beneficial to society as a whole.

In the years past, the only encounters with park police I ever had, were few and far between, and always positive with them being only interested in what kind of items I was finding.
Never hasseled or asked for a permit, in any way.
To be honest, this park police officer, in my opinion, was simply uneducated, and had no idea, that a permit was even available that allowed metal detecting.
Wow good luck out there! And don't forget the woods around the parks I've found lots of coins in wooded areas around parks. Id leave the needles where I saw them!
Mark
 
One safety act not mentioned here is “eyes up and open”. There is no need to have your eyes glued to the ground, you’re not looking for 70 year old footprints to follow who dropped that ‘52 dime…..
If you get that hinky feeling then take off your headphones and just listen for the better signals. If you squat down to recover then face out where most people would approach from but still watch your back. If its that hinky a feeling just leave for the time being.
 
where im at in west Michigan i find that thd ghetto areas is where i find the most. My favorite places to detect because everyone else is too chicken to detect those places. I just act like im supposed to be there and no one bothers me. Occasionally someone will come ask me some questions cause there curious, they will ask me how much did my detector cost, I usually tell them i hot it for $50 at the pawnshop. The parks are usually really trashy but theres tons of old coins and silver there if you’re willing to deal with the trash.
 
I've gota go with the small parks. I hunted big parks in and around the Kalamazoo area. Dug alot of silver and wheats and found my first barber. The smaller parks were a lot more fun though. I found my first Ben in a small park by the river. Hunted it three different times. Never seen anyone!!! hhrickinmi
 
Love the old ghetto parks. My buddy(s) and I hit them early in the morning for about 3 hours before the "gathering" starts. Most we suspect haven't been hunted too hard and they are much better for jewelry, good and junk, then the bigger city parks. HH jim tn
 
We have one local county park in my area here in PA that requires a $6/year permit, I got it a few years in a row. It's a well-used park, although it has some old features, its hit really hard. Having been approached by the ranger in that park a few times, I was never asked for the permit anyway. I quit getting a permit, I wasn't finding much other than clad. There were a few out of the way parts in that park where the Ranger can't get to anyway, that's where the good stuff came from a few years back.

Park hunting just doesn't do it for me anyway, give me an old foundation and I'm all in! The new thing at our local parks is designating very large areas as "natural areas". Once they do that, you're supposed to stay out of them. Actually, what they are doing is designating areas where they have too little manpower to keep cut and they let it grow wild.
 
Top