Hennepin Co Parks $25 permit good only for beach areas in off season.
Dakota Co Parks says no, except maybe off season on beaches with permit.
The Scott Co Parks are controlled by Hennepin Co.
MN State Parks no detecting, the only exception is if you lost something there & describe it very specifically, then they go with you to make sure you turn over everything else. I think the fine years ago for detecting a state park was $700-800?
MN State Forests the last I heard detecting them was a $500 fine because the archaeologists say any land could be Indian land.
No detecting on golf courses is pretty standard. Also any ballfields or kids playgrounds using artificial turf.
In Lakeville, years ago I was told you're supposed to get some resident ID on your car as they charge non-residents for parking at beach parks while lifeguards are on duty. The last I knew about detecting in Lakeville is that the smaller parks don't have portable restrooms & in the big parks they only open the restrooms when someone is paying to use the picnic shelter or ballfields. This is there way of saying they don't like non-residents to use the parks (or schoolyards).
If you detect schools, do not detect while school is is session.
If you can pop coins out of the ground with a screwdriver, that should be acceptable anywhere that allows detecting. Digging plugs or partial plugs may or may not be allowed. Just try not to do anything that they might consider damage (damaging something enough that it has to be replaced/repaired). If your tool is a knife or looks like a knife, it may or may not be a problem. I'd especially be nervous about using a knife with kids present (some people have wild imaginations).
If bored little kids are around, they'll try to walk right where you're swinging the detector, so if they step on your coil, you may need a new one. Everytime you dig for something, they'll be right in your face & saying can I have that? But if they're older kids they might throw down coins for you.
NW Dakota County is all low-crime but you could run into serious troublemakers in places like "Murderapolis". Most of the older parks have been detected several thousand times anyway. Even in the newer parks out here they're prettty cleaned out by people hoping for good jewelry or several dollars in new coins.
My dad & I detected most of the towns within a 250 mile radius back in late '70s & early '80s, found some older coins but not worth the driving expense even then. Now I just detect new places nearby, weather & health permitting. I'm near you (AV). HH, George (MN)
