A big thank you to Mr. Stoudt,
http://www.stoutstandards.com for the heads-up!
Demonstration Planned for June 1, 2011 in New York City
We have set the date, time and location for our Metal Detecting Rights demonstration as follows;
Wednesday June 1, 2011
Time: 10am- 2pm
Location: Central Park Arsenal at E. 64th St.
It is very important that we get a large turnout for our demonstration. Every effort should be made to support this demonstration for the future of our pastime. Please give attendance at this event a high priority, and bring anyone you can convince to attend and support our cause. Relatives, friends and neighbors are all welcome and needed. It is especially important that we have a large number of women and children (who are not in school) to come out.
We will gather at the East 64th St. entrance to the park at 9:45 am. Any last minute organization and/or instructions will be given at this time. At 10am, we will march together into the park and begin our demonstration in front of the Arsenal by waving metal detectors (sans batteries), holding or wearing
appropriate signs and passing out fliers to the public.
We will be careful not to block any thoroughfares or access to the Arsenal. It is our hope and belief, that by focusing attention on the parks department rules and regulations, which we feel do not provide for equal access to public use lands for all, and are therefore unjust and discriminatory, that we can
affect change. At 10:30 am, all task force members that are present, will walk into the Arsenal and ask to meet with Commissioner Benepe. If we are told that the Commissioner is unavailable, we will ask that a meeting be scheduled for a
future time.
The issues which we wish to discuss and hopefully resolve with the Commissioner are described below. Parks Rules and Regulations are discriminatory towards the recreation of metal detecting. Metal Detecting is listed under section 1-04 "Prohibited Uses" It is the only recreation listed in this section, other than aviation related activities which would clearly pose a danger to park patrons.
All other forms of recreation are listed under section 1-05 "Regulated Uses". Parks accessibility policies with regard to specific users of public park lands are discriminatory. Metal detectorists are only permitted in selected parks and not in others. In one park they are only permitted on selected days,(Saturdays and Sundays). No other form of recreation is limited to selected parks or selected days. Webster's dictionary defines the verb to "select" as to choose, or to discriminate.
Parks new "Permit Condition" for 2011 which states, "Probing or digging is strictly prohibited within 50 feet of any flower bed/garden, shrub or tree"... has no basis in reason or logic, nor documented cause for its implementation. This rule is oppressive, and contrary to professional opinion, which is that
aeration of the soil around trees actually benefits them by relieving soil compaction, the principal cause for the demise of trees.
In 2011, Clove Lakes Park in Staten island was deleted from the permit, as a park where metal detecting is allowed. Parks claim, that there was extensive damage done to the lawn area and flower beds. This remains undocumented, despite a meeting with the Borough Commissioner of Staten Island where this documentation was requested, but could not be produced. Anyone metal detecting
in Clove Lakes Park or any other NYC park requires a permit from the parks department, yet no name of the alleged perpetrator could be produced, and nobody was issued a summons. It is clear that the parks department has no evidence that the damage that they are alluding to, was caused by someone with a metal
detector.
If you have any questions or need additional information please contact the President of the Task Force, Harold Lowenfels, at 732-276-8251
