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Arkansas State Parks RULES


rusty_da_dog

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Well,

I received an email today from the Arkansas state parks dept. With a BUNCH of rules as to what/how a cache can be placed in a state park.

 

Looks to me like geocaching in Arkansas State Parks is darn near dead, at least in my opinion, I think it could be WAY too much of a hassle.

 

I have a copy of the rules/regulations in my email. Anyone interested in a copy I will be glad to email it to them, just email me.

 

Happy Hunting,

Rusty

 

RW Da Man!!!

CHS#1

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Ok, so I got my Copy/Paste skills sharpened a little.

Rusty

 

GEOCACHING PROCEDURES

ARKANSAS STATE PARKS AND MUSEUMS

 

CACHE PERMITS:

A. Placement of a cache on Department property must be secured with a permit.

B. The person applying for a permit must provide a valid address, telephone number, email address, vehicle license number and the website address on which the cache will be posted.

C. The exact location of the cache must be pre-approved by the Park Superintendent/ Museum Director, whose main concern will be public safety and the prevention of undesirable impacts to natural and cultural resources.

D. The exact cache location, including GPS coordinates, must be stated on the permit.

E. All permits will be in effect for a period of four (4) months. The exact starting and ending dates will be recorded on the permit.

 

Note: If, during the four (4) month effective period of a permit, a permit holder wants to change the location of the cache, a new permit must be issued and the effective permit cancelled.

 

F. Upon expiration of a permit, the permit holder is responsible for removing the cache and for removing the cache location from all websites and any information source.

 

G. If the permit holder fails to remove the cache, it will be removed by park staff and held for ten (10) days, after which staff will dispose of the cache. Confiscation and disposal by park staff will be recorded in an incident report.

 

CACHE CONTAINERS AND CONTENTS:

A. Cache containers must be non-breakable, transparent and have some form of latch or other closing mechanism to prohibit content exposure to wildlife.

B. Caches may not contain inappropriate or dangerous items. Such items include, but are not limited to, food, mediations, personal/hygiene products, pornography, weapons, of any type, etc. Log books are encouraged in Arkansas State Parks/ Museums, over exchange items.

C. All caches are subject to random inspection by Park Superintendents and Museum Directors. Park staff has the authority to immediately remove any item held in a cache deemed unacceptable.

 

CACHE LOCATIONS:

A. Physical caches are prohibited inside any state park/museum facility or structure.

B. The location of a cache must be pre-approved by the Park Superintendent or Museum Director.

C. Caches may not be placed in locations that may lead to the creation of spur trails.

D. Caches may not be buried, nor may vegetation or stones be disturbed to pace a cache.

E. Caches may not be placed in dangerous, inappropriate, or protected areas and habitats, on cliffs, underground, or underwater.

F. Metal detectors may not be used in cache searches.

 

COMPLIANCE:

 

A. Failure to comply with park / museum guidelines will result in the revocation of effective geocaching permits. Continued failure to comply with these guidelines will prevent the issuance of any further geocaching permits to the non-compliant group or individual.

B. If geocaching activities as a whole are found to have a negative impact on park resources or if safety becomes an issue in geocache searches, the Park Superintendent / Museum Director may ban geocaching from certain areas or from the entire park / museum.

 

RW Da Man!!!

CHS#1

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I agree with Trudy and the Beast that some of the rules are appropriate and others are too restrictive but I think avoiding Arkansas Parks is not the way to go.

 

Clearly these regs were put together without adequate input from geocachers.

 

Geocachers have as much right to use the parks as anyone else. Certainly we are better stewards of nature than offroaders and do far less damage than the averaging picnicing family.

 

Those who live in Arkansas need to meet with those in charge and seek a change in regulations that is more balanced.

 

They need to demonstrate that there are many taxpayers who geocache, that geocachers are good stewards of the parks, that geocaching is a legitimate use of the parks that does not interfere with the use of the parks by others and help the park people become acquainted with geocaching and geocachers.

 

Just my two cents...

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Seems most of the rules are reasonable, while some are not. Permits and four month durations are unreasonable and just create more work and aggrevation for everyone.

 

We had this same issue with the St. Johns River Water Management District in Florida. However, we were able to work out a reasonable solution for everyone.

 

Look at this Forum Topic to see the issues and resolution to the problems. They set up a simple approval application on their web site that works great.

 

You can read more about the issues on this cache's logs.

 

You might also have them contact Nels Parson the Land Manager at the SJRWMD to discuss geocaching from the land managers point of view. He really went to bat for us when his bosses wanted to ban geocaching outright. His email address is nparson@sjrwmd.com.

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At least there is now a written policy allowing geocaching! icon_smile.gif

 

The next step would be to place caches that follow the rules. When the parks people see that there are few if any problems, they may ease off a bit on some of the restrictions.

 

After 4-6 months, meet with the parks management to discuss the regulations, and see if the more restrictive provisions can be modified.

 

Best of luck! I hope to hunt a few of these eventually!

 

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Overall the rules seem fair, could be a little better, but if you read it over they havent out right denied any cache location or type.

 

There are two things I would nit-pick. First the four month limit. It seems just a bit too short, with a small time limit I think everyone would be swarming on the thing at once, which could cause problems(and noone wants that, right?). But after using the rules, maybe they* can be convinced to extend/relax the four month limit. icon_smile.gif

 

The other is that it seems like no ammo cans are allowed. Ammo cans are way sturdier in construction(shatterproof icon_eek.gif) and are almost animal proof(snap in place latches icon_wink.gif). So will they trade the one for maxing out of the other two? icon_razz.gif

 

waypoint_link.gif22008_1700.gif37_gp_logo88x31.jpg

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I disagree with the permit idea completely. It seems like another waste of limited funds for the Parks Dept. The costs incured in manpower and having to deal with the bureaucracy of permits would be too much, especially since the state is havings budget problems already. Unless they intend to charge for the permit, which I again disagree with, I say just let us do our thing and leave us alone.

"Public Lands---No Trespassing"

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WoW, finally someone from Arkansas posts their opinion.

Some of the things that are on the list I think are ok, some I totally disagree with. Cache in clear plastic containers, random inspection by park supervisors (What if they consider something they might want out of the cache inappropriate just so they can confiscate it for themselves, not saying they would, just a question) Also why do we need permits and they only last for 4 months, thats not near enough time.

 

Come on I know there are more Arkansas Geocachers out there, I would be interested in your opinions.

Also I heard there was going to be a public hearing on Jan 16th, any Arkansas Geocachers going? I am going to do my best to make it.

 

Merry Christmas,

Rusty

 

RW Da Man!!!

CHS#1

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quote:
Originally posted by rusty_da_dog:

WoW, finally someone from Arkansas posts their opinion.

Some of the things that are on the list I think are ok, some I totally disagree with. Cache in clear plastic containers, random inspection by park supervisors (What if they consider something they might want out of the cache inappropriate just so they can confiscate it for themselves, not saying they would, just a question)


I think a lot cachers (from Arkansas or otherwise)disagree with the container *requires*. If you locate an email address I think a more than one cacher would send them a letter saying how shortsighted some of the guidelines are.

As for random inspection, I have to say, "so what?". Theres nothing from stoping 'geo-pirates' raiding whatever they want as it is.

 

quote:
Also why do we need permits and they only last for 4 months, thats not near enough time.
We're in total agreement about 4 months being too short.

 

quote:
Come on I know there are more Arkansas Geocachers out there, I would be interested in your opinions.

Also I heard there was going to be a public hearing on Jan 16th, any Arkansas Geocachers going? I am going to do my best to make it.


You might want to post messages on some of Arkansas cache pages, or on other Arkansas geocaching sites.

 

waypoint_link.gif22008_1700.gif37_gp_logo88x31.jpg

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There will be a public hearing on the new Parks directive 3220 on

January 16, 2003 at 10:30 a.m.

The location is:

 

Arkansas Hospitality Association

603 Pulaski Street

Little Rock, AR

 

Prior to the meeting public comments will be accepted. Comments should

be mailed to:

 

Director of Arkansas State Parks

One Capitol Mall

Little Rock, AR 72201

 

Verbal comments can be made by calling 501/682-7743.

 

A Legal Notice is currently posted in Newspapers.

 

Some of the highlights of Directive 3220:

 

Caches require a permit. Exact location of the cache must be approved by

the park supervisor and included on the permit. Any websites that list

the cache must be included on the permit.

 

The permit is valid four four months. Cache must be removed in four

months and removed from any websites.

 

The cache container must be clear.

 

Nothing hazardous in caches, no food.

 

Caches are subject to random inspection.

 

Caches are not permitted in locations that will cause spur trails.

 

No caches in park buildings or structures.

 

There is some more official jargon, but that is about it.

 

A copy of the directive is available at the Administrative office of any

Arkansas State Park or Museum.

 

It is titled Geocaching - Arkansas State Parks and Museums, Park

Directive 3220.

 

Dated November 5, 2002.

 

Rusty

 

RW Da Man!!!

CHS#1

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We made a caching trip to Little Rock this past weekend. I must say that I saw no signs of damage to the environment caused by cachers in any of the parks we visited (even the one where Salvo encountered the razorback).

 

ChinaJack, cwlutterloh and I would probably never have visited the state parks around Little Rock if not for GeoCaching. I think all three of us have a new respect for the beauty of the Arkansas landscape (and a renewed disdain for the Arkansas DOT - what's up with the neverending I-40 Construction?).

 

I won't be able to make it to LR for the public meeting, but I encourage any of the local cachers to attend and be heard. Rules are good, but it would be a shame for the sport to be regulated to death in those parks.

 

- If the cat had kittens in the oven, we wouldn't call 'em biscuits. -

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quote:
Originally posted by pdumas:

Wife and I are working on some comments and we'll mail them in, I'll also try and be at the meeting on Jan. 16 @ 10:30. We should post this hearing as a geocache. icon_cool.gif


 

I think that this is an excellent idea for an event cache, what a great way to publicize the meeting and get a strong turnout. I hope someone does this.

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We shouldn't roll over & play dead yet. the policy isn't set in stone & when it is we should

still keep trying to get the best policy made that we can. We can't let park officials think that we are all a bunch of pushovers. We've

got to let them know, not just in Arkansas, that we care for the areas as much as or more that they do.

 

Everyone got their letters sent yet? We've got one week from Thursday to get them there!

 

I'll look into making this an event cache, I'd have to get coords somehow though, anybody close enough to help with that? Also, whoever does make it to the meeting, could you report back here how it goes?

 

The Mountain Bike Guy from Joplin MO

------------------------------------

Long Live Long Rides

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quote:
Originally posted by MTBguy:

Everyone got their letters sent yet? We've got one week from Thursday to get them there!

 

I'll look into making this an event cache, I'd have to get coords somehow though, anybody close enough to help with that? Also, whoever does make it to the meeting, could you report back here how it goes?

 


 

Coordinates (within spitting distance anyway) should be N34° 44.713 W92° 17.135.

 

- If the cat had kittens in the oven, we wouldn't call 'em biscuits. -

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At least they don't charge you a fee for the cache. NC State Parks charge $25 for a permit to place the cache. They are supposed to be good for 3 months, but mine has been there 4 so far. I placed it near enough to the boundry that I'll move it outside the park when they decide to make it expire. Although I don't like the permitting process, being a former ranger I do understand the need. Some folks would place them in sensative areas and parks are generally trying to protect certain areas.

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The meeting is this week on Thursday! We need as many people as we can get to be there. Plus there is an added bonus, you get to log it as an event cache: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=49331

 

Good luck everybody, lets make caching in Arkansas State Parks a good experience for everybody.

 

The Mountain Bike Guy from Joplin MO

------------------------------------

Long Live Long Rides

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icon_biggrin.gif Victory! icon_smile.gif

 

Permits are still required but are for 1-year at a time with 1-year renewals at the descretion of the park staff.

 

Ammo boxes are ok (maybe even encouraged.) The "transparent" requirement was struck from the rules. The container is at the descretion of the cacher, but must be approved at the time you get the permit.

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Great work everybody, sounds like a lot of people showed up at the

meeting, and had great results! The main points are we can use ammo

boxes, we get an official state park geocaching sticker to put on

it, the permits last one whole year, with automatic renewal at the

descretion of the local park personnel.

 

They way the permit process is supposed to work, is you take your

cache to the park office, and tell them where you want to put it,

they will then inspect it and put on an "official Arkansas State

Park Approved Geocache" sticker with your name and date on it.

(Basically the sticker is the permit form and permit itself.) The

sticker must be stuck on the cache and then you can hide it. There

will be no charge. Thanks again to everybody for making this work,

pat yourselves on the back!

 

The Mountain Bike Guy from Joplin MO

------------------------------------

Long Live Long Rides

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Let the caching OFFICIALLY begin.......

Wow its great, I just knew it was going to be one of those political things, but the people on the commision, at least for the most part, were really pro-geocaching. I think the turn out really caught them by surprise. As we were leaving I did hear one funny comment. People were talking about National Forrest lands and his comment was " My dadgum jeep doesn't hurt their land anymore than their vehicles do." I thought that was rather amusing.

 

Cya on the trails,

Rusty

 

RW Da Man!!!

CHS#1

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I was hoping to make the public hearing this morning but could not take the morning off. Anyway, I did send comments to the contact at the parks department and cc'ed the director as well on Friday.

 

While I do not mind the permit idea the problems I had with it were:

 

a.) The Permit was only good for 4 months

b.) Park Manager had to approve site in advance (and from my interpretation, only the manager could approve site)

 

I’m glad that they took care of part (a). As for part (:cool:, I suggested that an approximate location be agreed upon in advance with instructions on where not to put the cache (i.e. not with in XX feet of a cliff, not on a stream bank below the high water mark, etc.) and THEN the final position be reported on the permit. I also asked for person on duty (ranger, attendant, etc) have the authority to approve the cache location because I figured the manager/superintendent in not there on weekends.

 

I was thinking if you followed the rules, you would have to hike to the spot at least twice (once to get the "exact" position and a second time to place the cache). If the location was unacceptible, then you would have to make a 3rd and 4th trip.

 

While I wasn’t too thrilled on the “clear” container idea, I though maybe they were approaching that from a security standpoint and would not back off. I’m glad I was wrong about that one.

 

Anyway, I’m glad they are going to allow Geocaching in Arkansas State Parks instead of just doing a blanket ban on something that is unfamiliar to them….

 

I also saw the article in Tuesday’s Democrat-Gazette about Geocaching where it mentions the Cadron Kids, great article!!

 

I am "new" to the sport but have been using GPS through my job for the last 4 years. I am just glad that they didn't ban it in the state parks just when I was getting started....

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After reading the messages here, and from the discussion in the hall after the State Parks meeting, it is clear to me we need an Arkansas Geocaching Association.

 

To promote this effort, I've created a yahoo group called ArkGeo for discussion of geocaching in Arkansas.

 

You can join the e-mail group by visiting this web site:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ArkGeo/

 

or by sending an e-mail to:

ArkGeo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

 

Longdogs

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