Jump to content

Geocaching prohibited in city parks?


Recommended Posts

This is my first post so forgive my newbie-ness :D I'm just wondering if it is common for cities to prohibit caching in city parks, like my city has done (Arlington, TX) according to this morning's paper.

 

I can certainly understand prohibiting it in a nature preserve or an environmentally sensitive area, but in a "regular" city park, with playgrounds, picnics, hiking, sports, etc. all going on... it doesn't make sense. Are we overrun with rogue cachers destroying the landscape and terrorizing small children? LOL

 

I am hoping that the paper didn't get it right and it's not a city-wide prohibition, but specific to one or two nature preserve-type parks. (I'll call Parks and Rec tomorrow and ask).

 

Link to article: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/162385.html

 

Sherry

Link to comment

Some areas are overrun with paranoid park managers. Most areas have sensible ones who like geocaching and like that people are finding ways to enjoy the park system as it was intended. For the most part the people I and others in my state have worked with have said something like "cool, sounds like fun, knock yourself out".

Edited by Renegade Knight
Link to comment

Welcome to the Forums! :lol:

 

Well, they got this part wrong:

" Geocaching, an outdoor treasure-hunting game where people intentionally bury objects for others to find, is prohibited."

If they believe that, they don't know much about how the game is played . . . :D

 

If you talk to the people at the Parks and Recreation department, you could emphasize CITO activities. If they have an area that needs to be cleaned up, maybe you could schedule a CITO Event to get on their good side. :D

Link to comment

There are plenty of examples where local park systems have banned geocaching. Two such land managers in the territory where I review new cache submissions are the Summit County Metro Parks (Akron, OH area) and the Licking County Park District (suburbs of Columbus, OH). In each case the ban has been somewhat of a kneejerk reaction to a problem cache years ago. Neither land manager has modified its position. Meanwhile, Geocaching is encouraged by park systems in neighboring counties, such as Cleveland MetroParks and Medina County Park District, both of which hide their own caches, host event caches, and allow geocachers to hide caches in their parks under a permit system. And the Ohio State Parks love geocachers so much, they are sponsoring their second annual competition, where you find a series of 20 or so caches to earn the right to win a new GPS and to attend a campout event.

 

You would think that with the trend clearly gravitating towards allowing geocaches, perhaps under a passive or active permission system, that the days of flat-out bans would be behind us.

Link to comment

Wow, that community has gone grade A socialist. Forget geocaching, how about just having a good time. Sounds like they want the park to be like the library.

 

Here is what you do, if a park employee asks you if you're geocaching, just tell them your little device is a decible meter, and you're just making sure that the noise level in the park is at acceptable levels.

Link to comment

Sure hope that there are cachers in the Arlington area who can set those people straight as to the guidelines that GC.com has regarding " intentionally burying caches" Don't know where they got their information from but that surely is far from the truth. I would hope that a group would approach those in charge and inform them of the exact guidelines and ask if they could indeed get together an event for a CITO. Sure would do some good and create some good PR in the meantime.

Link to comment

If the City Council thinks that Geocaching is

 

an outdoor treasure-hunting game where people intentionally bury objects for others to find, is prohibited

 

it's no wonder they banned it. It sure is hard to wean reporters from,

"Geocaching, the search for buried treasure".

 

Don't get it right, write a catchy phrase.......

Link to comment

Welcome to the Forums! :lol:

 

Well, they got this part wrong:

" Geocaching, an outdoor treasure-hunting game where people intentionally bury objects for others to find, is prohibited."

If they believe that, they don't know much about how the game is played . . . :D

I dunno, maybe one of the local cachers there feels the same way as you do about buried caches:

As I stated, there is one here hidden exactly that way, and it has been found by lots of people who really enjoy it. I hope the cacher you mention doesn't come here and find it . . . :D

 

As to your other points, I agree with you. The cache I found in Colorado was a great one, hidden near some cool rock formations, and it certainly had no impact on the environment. Piling up some rocks to hide it would have done more aesthetic damage because that would have been unnatural. The simple hide the cache owner employed was perfect for the area.

 

On the other hand, I have found some buried, five-gallon bucket caches I wouldn't mind seeing Archived . . . but I certainly wouldn't turn them in . . . :D

 

Kinda proves the point many of us were trying to make in that other thread, huh? :D

All it takes is one land manager to think geocachers find it acceptable to bury caches and bam, geocaching is banned.

Edited by Mopar
Link to comment

There is a very big difference between caches in the middle of nowhere on BLM land and caches in City Parks with grass and landscaping. :D

1: Try explaining that to the land managers (Full disclosure, I am a land manager, so I know how most think)

 

2: Try explaining the difference to all the people who think this cache is such a cool idea they are going to hide one just like it in the park around the corner from home.

 

Most cachers dont frequent the forums. Their only exposure to various hiding techniques is what they find locally. Anyone who has cached while traveling knows that different areas tend to get a different "style" of hide. That's because most of the hiders only have their finding experience to fall back on when deciding how to hide a cache of their own. They mimic someone elses hide they admire or enjoy. Someone finds a cache made out of PVC pipe or an ammo can out in the woods, no problem. Then they make one of their own just like it and hide it next to a playground. Huge problem. That has happened dozens and dozens of times.

Start allowing buried caches out in the middle of nowhere and in no time flat new cachers will be digging up city parks to hide ones just like it. Guaranteed.

I can also promise you that if burying a cache was acceptable I would ban geocaching outright in my town. Having a permit system so I could ensure none were buried would entail way to much red tape and money that's not in my budget. Easier to just ban it outright. Most other land managers I know would do the same.

Edited by Mopar
Link to comment
<snip>

Their only exposure to various hiding techniques is what they find locally. Anyone who has cached while traveling knows that different areas tend to get a different "style" of hide. That's because most of the hiders only have their finding experience to fall back on when deciding how to hide a cache of their own.

<snip>

I'll definitely grant you that. In Blanding, Utah, the local hiding style is a buried five-gallon white bucket. Apparently the community has plenty of empty "food storage" containers. :D

Link to comment

Sherry, hopefully, help is on the way. I just posted a note linking here and the article in the Texas Geocashing forums to bring it to the attention of others there. See here!

 

Like mentioned, it appears to be a knee-jerk action based on misinformation. I wonder if local cachers could get a refund on city taxes if not allowed to use the parks?

Link to comment

To offer an extreme (and welcome) contrast to the land managers mentioned so far, the Tallahassee FL Parks and Recreation department is actually hiding its own caches to encourage park use. Cool, eh? :laughing:

We have the same thing here in Ohio. Ohio State Parks recently hid 19 caches and if you find them all you can win something at an event later this summer.

 

They did something similar last year also.

 

Its a wonderful way to get people to travel to visit the cool parks in our area.

 

Plus they even gave us permission to place our own cache on their property.

Link to comment

http://www.star-telegram.com/arlington_new...ory/162385.html

 

In case the article is later removed, here is the geocaching mention from the article:

 

Metal detectors

 

Those who want to use metal detectors in parks must get written permission first and are asked to notify the city if they find anything of potentially significant historical or monetary value. Treasure seekers are asked to dig no deeper than 2 feet and to cover any holes they create. Geocaching, an outdoor treasure-hunting game where people intentionally bury objects for others to find, is prohibited.

 

DFW geocachers wishing to contact the Arlington, TX parks department may do so via email at:

 

parksdepartment@arlingtontx.gov

Link to comment

http://www.star-telegram.com/arlington_new...ory/162385.html

 

In case the article is later removed, here is the geocaching mention from the article:

 

Metal detectors

 

Those who want to use metal detectors in parks must get written permission first and are asked to notify the city if they find anything of potentially significant historical or monetary value. Treasure seekers are asked to dig no deeper than 2 feet and to cover any holes they create. Geocaching, an outdoor treasure-hunting game where people intentionally bury objects for others to find, is prohibited.

 

DFW geocachers wishing to contact the Arlington, TX parks department may do so via email at:

 

parksdepartment@arlingtontx.gov

 

I guess I missed the memo on this one. :laughing: When did we start burying things?

Link to comment

It sounds like somebody didn't do their homework on what geocaching is before they drafted the ordinance. Either that or the reporter didn't interpet the wording of the ordinance correctly. I think I will email the parks department to see what's going on.

Link to comment
I merged together two similar threads. I added a subtitle to tie this thread to Arlington TX.

 

Gracias.

 

It sounds like they don't want people to be able to use the parks at all -- I'm surprised they allow laughing and running.

 

In any case, glass containers, dogs off-leash and on long leashes, treasure hunters and the restrrom pervs are probably the only things they need to worry about. Unsupervised children riding bikes / electric scooters, etc... in the parking lots are probably the greatest hazzard I have seen, followed by people cruising the parks in their loud, obnoxious cars.

 

People who fly real RC planes are pretty good about picking a spot away from people -- and the one they show in the photo is a $30 Wally-World special anyway. Why weren't kites on the list -- they are more unpredictable than planes.

 

I think the Arlingington city council has been visited by the flying crack monkeys. Hopefully enough of us local folks can blast them with emails and set them straight.

Edited by qlenfg
Link to comment

ARLINGTON PARKS = UPDATE - PLEASE READ

 

I work for the City of Arlington's Parks and Recreation Department. Our department heads are aware of the inaccurate information depicted in this weekend's Star Telegram. We have received several emails from citizens voicing their concerns. I myself have been a geocacher for many years.

 

I am attaching an email that our Assistant Director, Matt Young, is sending to all those who have been mislead by the article. I will also post this in a new thread to make sure all of those individuals who live in Arlington and enjoy our many parks know that they are still, as always, welcome to geocache in the City of Arlington.

 

Here is Matt's letter.....

 

My name is Matt Young and I am an Assistant Director with the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department. As you can imagine, we have received numerous emails about yesterday's article on our new park ordinances. Unfortunately, Ms. Schrock was incorrect by stating that geocaching was prohibited in our parks. This is not the case.

 

Section 4.08 - Use of Metal Detectors - states "It shall be unlawful for any person to use or operate a metal detector in a City park, except by permit from the Director." While writing the article, Ms. Schrock visited with staff about the ordinance and geocaching was discussed.

 

However, the City of Arlington does not plan on prohibiting geocaching in our parks in any way. While we have had a few groups damage park property in the past, we understand that 99% of the time we do not even know that geocachers have even visited our parks. This ordinance is simply aimed at trying to limit destruction of park property, not negatively impact the recreational activities of our patrons.

 

I want to apologize for the erroneous information in the article, and thank you for taking the time to write about your concerns. If you have any other questions or concerns with the new ordinances or our park system in general, please feel to contact me directly.

 

Sincerely,

 

Matt Young

Assistant Director - Park Operations

City of Arlington, Texas

(817) 459-5486

 

"Working Together to Make Arlington Better"

Link to comment

I found this post on the Texas Geocaching forum:

 

GOOD NEWS...... this is a response to my email

 

Mr. Stricklin,

 

My name is Matt Young and I am an assistant director with the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department. As you can imagine, we have received numerous emails about yesterday's article on our new park ordinances. Unfortunately, Ms. Schrock was incorrect by stating that geocaching was prohibited in our parks. This is not the case.

 

Section 4.08 - Use of Metal Detectors - states "It shall be unlawful for any person to use or operate a metal detector in a City park, except by permit from the Director." While writing the article, Ms. Schrock visited with staff about the ordinance and geocaching was discussed. However, the City of Arlington does not plan on prohibiting geocaching in our parks in any way. While we have had a few groups damage park property in the past, we understand that 99% of the time we do not even know that geocachers have even visited our parks. This ordinance is simply aimed at trying to limit destruction of park property, not negatively impact the recreational activities of our patrons.

 

I want to apologize for the erroneous information in the article, and thank you for taking the time to write about your concerns. If you have any other questions or concerns with the new ordinances or our park system in general, please feel to contact me directly.

 

Sincerely,

 

Matt Young

Assistant Director - Park Operations

City of Arlington, Texas

(817) 459-5486

 

"Working Together to Make Arlington Better"

Link to comment
an outdoor treasure-hunting game where people intentionally bury objects for others to find, is prohibited

Well, since we are not playing the kind of geocaching where people intentionally bury objects for other people to find, it sounds to me like regular geocaching is still ok.

Link to comment

I found this post on the Texas Geocaching forum:

 

GOOD NEWS...... this is a response to my email

 

Mr. Stricklin,

...we understand that 99% of the time we do not even know that geocachers have even visited our parks

 

That's because we're coming in after dark! :laughing:

Link to comment

Metal detectors

 

"Those who want to use metal detectors in parks must get written permission first and are asked to notify the city if they find anything of potentially significant historical or monetary value. Treasure seekers are asked to dig no deeper than 2 feet and to cover any holes they create. Geocaching, an outdoor treasure-hunting game where people intentionally bury objects for others to find, is prohibited."

 

Let me get this straight.....it's ok for a guy with a metal detector to dig a hole 2 feet deep when the thing goes "BEEP", but not ok to place a cache???? :P

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...