Houston Parks and Recreation policy regarding The Secret

[TxTH]

I went to the Houston Parks and Recreation permit office this morning to discuss the permitting procedure to dig in Hermann Park.  Unfortunately, the lady at the desk that I had a nice visit with, informed me that all digging for The Secret Casque had been banned.  The department is citing the Antiquity Laws of Texas which includes all city parks.  Here is the entire quote she gave me printed out:


"Unfortunately according to Antiquities Code and deeds:



- Digging ("breaking ground") for anything like this in a park requires a permit from the State Historical Commission.

- The party breaking ground must be a qualified archeologist approved by the state per code

- Anything actually found beneath the surface is the property of the State of Texas per code

- It would not be considered a project in keeping with the deed restrictions in HP and others"



So, they have basically banned anyone willing to go through the permitting procedure and encouraged others to sneak in and damage the park.


Penalty if caught:

§ 191.171. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person violating any

of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and on

conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50 and not

more than $1,000, by confinement in jail for not more than 30 days,

or by both.


I am continuing research. (6/18/2022)

TxTH

[houstontxdave]

Hermann Park during the 70s and 80s was more relaxed and wooded. The Houston Zoo itself (back then was called the Houston Zoological Gardens) was owned by the city. Digging in the Houston Zoo was possible up until 2004 when the Zoo was taken over by a corporation..that ended digging in the Zoo. Plus so much new construction and exhibits have been built over the zoo that most likely any casque in the childrens zoo is lost.

Digging in Hermann Park proper itself has always been restricted. They even have security walking around at night. They dont allow any digging. Lots of water lines, powerlines, fiberoptic, etc. are run underground. So its protected with state, local and federal laws.



I'm HoustonTxDave in the Q4T forums..I have lived in Houston since 1973. I remember my family taking me and my younger siblings to the Houston Zoo and Hermann Park on a number of occasions. I was about 10 years old when Byron buried the casque. My younger siblings and I remember the old Houston zoo and Hermann park. We often went with family or on school trips.

Back then we would take a disposable camera with 12 to 24 exposures with us to take photos. I will try to look through some of our old family photo albums to see if we have some photos of the area.

-Good Luck to all
HoustonTxDave (David)