detectingpro
Senior Member
This thread may belong in Research/getting permission, so please feel free to move it.
I was hunting at a local park this evening while baseball practice was going on the other side of the park. I had a great hunt on the playground, found a heart pendant and little gum-ball ring. I ended up on one of the 8 baseball fields. I was hunting for about 5 minutes until I heard a voice, I'll give what happened as best as I remember it.
The guy was obviously mad, but he wasn't overly rude about it, but yet he was... lol
Upset parent- "hey dude?, Dude?"
(i turn around to look and theres a guy walking towards me with a scowl)
I dont say anything, I just start walking towards him.
Upset parent- "You can't be digging on these fields, we have pipes and sprinkler systems here and you could hit one"
(Now in 50+ hours that I've hunted this park i have yet to hit a pipe-like signal in the outfields)
me- " I can tell if i'm hitting a pipe or not"
Him- "Oh that doesn't matter, we have tournaments here and we can't have holes all over the place for people to trip and fall"
Me- "I fill all my holes..."
Him-(interrupting me)" That doesn't matter, the grass is still cut and is not as stable as it was"
Me- (remaining silent)
Him- "We rent these fields for $5000 and we don't want you on these fields digging"
Me- "Just to let know, there is no law or ordinances against detecting"
He then repeats that he doesn't want me digging because they rent the fields.. I respond with just "OK"
I turn around and start heading back to my truck and he pipes back up,
"Next time I catch you on here I'll have to contact the authorities"
I didn't turn around and I kept walking.
-END-
Background on the park, it's owned by the township (I assume) and there are no signs or ordinances that give any indication on metal detecting. In fact I'll post the ordinances here if you guys want.
My questions are,
1. Since they rent the fields, do they have ANY right to tell me to get off?
2. Did I play this situation out right?
3. Should I go back?
Now I could contact the township directly to ask them, but we all know asking to "dig" on athletic fields will most likely result in a resounding NO!!!!
If I go back I would want permission directly from whoever owns it.
How should I go about asking permission?
Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.