I n my town/county it is legal but,a couple politicians around here discourage it.In one particular park there is an alderman that lives right by the park.He has called the police on me and a few others LYING about us......saying "They are making a mess" "Some vagrant is laying spread eagle on the ground "''I don't know if he drunk ,on drugs or has a medical problem....All to have the police come out and talk to me.....This Alderman has called the Police on about everyone that he doesn't like or that he dis approves of there conduct even tho it may be legal,and he is on his way out.....Anyway
Anyway.........I have carried Trash in my pouch when hunting in this park....And when this jerk came up to me and tells me I am destroying the park...I tell him to find one spot where I have dug (I was very careful not to leave much of a trace).....He said "You are not contributing to the beautification of this park and can only be doing harm to it "....I just looked at him...Reached in to my bag,,,,and as I was pulling out some junk items I was saying 'If you think -- I -- am doing harm,what do you think the people that are leaving THESE items behind are doing,Are THEY making this park safe for Your Children ? '.........I then pulled out 2 hypo needles,8-10 little crack bags,a razor knife,a rusted pearing knife,and a short rusty 25 caliber magazine
that must have came from a boot Barretta,,(All had been found in this park on different hunts),,,I bent down and laid them on my drop cloth,,and said I also dug these up...Reached in and laid out 7 bullets,some of different caliber ,2 shotgun shell casings,bottle caps ,screw caps,a corkscrew,and a mess of pull tabs.......I said "there was also allot of broken glass out here that could cut a child's foot...But I either buried it in a hole near by that I was digging,or I put it in a trash container so your children or my children can not be hurt by them....He didn't say a word just walked away.
If you can contact the local Detecting clubs in your area .Ask if they would save all their trash for a month .(Tell them what you plan to do with the trash)...(Needles,bullets,knives glass,and anything that could harm a bare foot Keeping these items in a separate box & garbage bag),,,also all the pull tabs,and junk.....Make arrangements to Pick up (At the end of the month with a couple like minded friends,and when you go to that meeting....Say THIS is what harms your parks,and YOUR children....We are just your unpaid janitors for this County........Once they see all that ..It is bound to make a positive impression..(For Metal Detectorists)..When you dump those garbage bags on the table......(.But then again....Allot of these wealthy Yuppie Puppies Think Detectorists and their actions are Tacky and beneath their position in life..........So it may be an exersize in futility with their kind )
Good Luck
If you take all the junk youve dug and picked off the surface that may help..Also bring up the fact that Its good exercise,Great family activity....And show them how you properly dig a hole.Maybe some pics.Plz keep us posted..And i agree Kellyco may want to be at that meeting,it is in there back yard so to speak..
It has gotten to the point, where you are told to go to work, go home, and stay there till we tell you otherwise. Golfers tear up chunks, soccer players tear the ground, dog walkers leave crap, and you can get bit, tennis players leave balls everywhere, park goers leave trash etc. but we have to be singled out.