ORIGINAL: TruBlu02
While I do advocate joining a club most of the time I understand his aversion to pay 200 bucks a year just on principle. I have not been a member of a club in a long time. There are many public parks where RC flying is normal and I normally seek those out. When I was stioned at Little Rock AFB we had a public park that had a huge open field on it tht the city kept mowed year round. They used it for a once a year festival and thats it. Me and my buddy flew on it all the time. I liked it more than a club field because we were free to do 3D and fly in random patterns. Most club flys that I go to I spent more time keeping and eye on the club members because all they want to do is fly in big circles and got pissed when I wanted to hover down on the deck. It is not always about the money. For a beginner yes I think he should seek out the help of a expert but don't start bashing the guy for using a PUBLIC park because it can be done safely.
I don't deny that there are parks large enough to fly in. I do question the safety of doing so. As you point out, parks are public. IMHO, that means that you have no right to restrict others from using any part of it, which means that you have no control of the flight area. The fact that nobody has yet walked under your plane doesn't mean that they won't in the future.