Originally Posted by Propworn

Many of the clubs operating on public land are under the stewardship of the Army Corps of Engineers and as such indeed are public property. A member of the Army Corps of Engineers who was also a serving member of the club executive explained how it worked re the land being as you say public.

It is public land but the usage type and times are determined by the stewardship of that parcel of land. You the general public may use the land but only for the agreed upon purposes and times. Same as school grounds that have specific usages and times allowed.

If a club were to apply for permission to use an area for fixed wing only or of a certain size only the club has every right to enforce these limitations and have you removed if you attempt otherwise.

In many instances as a non-member of that club you may be allowed to use the facilities however you will find in most cases you must be a member of the AMA to do so. There will also be some times like an event or contest where you will not be allowed unless participating in that event. If my group makes contract for exclusive use of a plot of land to operate a club with specific types of models and states explicitly the exclusion of others they have every right to enforce that contract.

Public land doesn’t mean you can just walk in and do what you want when you want. People, organizations and clubs make contract/rent or lease said property at times for private use and if given permission by the authority that has stewardship of the land precludes your public rights during the contracted times/dates. A simple analogy: You cannot walk into a gym in a public school and use the facilities when someone or a group has made contract for its use even though it is public property.

Dennis