Dennis,

Thank you for the vote of confidence. I would be happy to "take the lead," but Matt is right: I (we) would be reinventing the wheel. AMA has an ongoing public relations and flying site effort, including plug-and-play resources available for the asking. Probably the best thing to do is exactly what Matt suggested: Offer to help maintain the place instead of contributing to the wear & tear. One club I know of has a field on state land right now because they called the park HQ and said, "We have 20 guys planning to show up a month from next Saturday with shovels, lawnmowers, paint, and trash bags. Please make a list of what needs doing out there, and we'll do it." It's an annual event now, the only requirement for membership -- no dues, just the spring cleaning day.

Edge_Pilot,

"Grown men with toys" we may be, but the "grown men" part is at least a step in the right direction. Definitely, having a friend in city government helps. ... Also, I just happen to have some recent experience with this: Much of the open space in suburbs these days is not city-owned, but private property that's included in a planned community controlled by a homeowners' association (HOA). If you happen to live in one, the HOA board is much less formal & more approachable than a city council, and the board members are literally your neighbors. They don't have to worry about setting policy for a big, sprawling city -- only that neighborhood. So one guy walking around in the greenspace with a bag to pick up litter & dog turds in one hand and an electric foamie in the other could be a welcome sight! Just be careful or you could end up nominated for the board at their next annual meeting. [X(]

Duane Gall
RCPRO