The reason places become off limits is because careless people feel entitled to detect anywhere they wish.
Nobody gets mad because somebody asked permission, they get mad when some idiot starts digging up their grass. What do you think happens when they run somebody off? That is not the end of it, they call their boss, then it's brought to the attention of those who regulate these parks. Digging has and will always be the number one problem people have with our hobby. I don't care how careful and gentle you are, there is always two idiots behind you that are not and leave a mess behind. It's time to stop preaching the evils of asking permission, if after ten pages you haven't convinced a soul, your never gonna! It's time to start preaching respect and responsibility! Every time somebody gets run off it makes all of us look bad.
I have never dug a hole while playing frisbee, playing football, riding a bike or any other hobby other than metal detecting. Has there ever been one instance of a frisbee player leaving craters behind? How many football players dig holes and leave them? Anytime there is a regulation put in place it's because of sloppy detectorists or archies trying to protect history. Those two are the cause, not somebody who wants to be sure they are not detecting an area that is off limits. The OP has been ridiculed and belittled for six pages for asking permission. Did they tell him no? Did they rush to put up signs? Did they later declare it off limits? Do me a favor, go anywhere detecting is off limits and ask them why that is. 90% of the time it's because sloppy detectorists, how about instead of twenty threads on permission, we have a few on responsible digging. How many know how to cut a plug so it doesn't kill the grass? How many people use a small dropcloth for the dirt?
The clash over Central Park stems from a dispute that began in May 2008 when all metal detectorists were suddenly banned from Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, after park keepers allegedly observed one man leaving craters in the ground.
Metal Detecting Enthusiasts Fight for the Right to Scan Central Park - Manhattan - DNAinfo.com New York