Yes, with conditions
1. What the city publishes
1- The use of metal detectors as a recreational tool is permitted in parks. 2- The use of metal detectors is explicitly prohibited at Rose Hill Cemetery, White Oak Cemetery, Griffy Lake Nature Preserve, Leonard Springs Nature Park, Latimer Woods, and Switchyard Park. 3- Magnet fishing is prohibited without permission. 4- If any person using a metal detector locates an item of archaeological or historical significance, that person must notify the Parks and Recreation Department of the find. 5- While some disturbance of the ground may be necessary, persons using metal detectors are prohibited from disturbing stream banks, wetlands, prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, cemeteries, ecologically sensitive areas/ and or contaminated areas, unique geological features, steep hillsides, dam structures or other unsafe areas.(Refer to Policy 13240 Harvesting and Collecting) 6- Any person conducting metal detecting or related exploration activities must restore all disturbed ground, turf, soil, or vegetation immediately after excavation. All plugs, holes, and displaced materials shall be repaired so that the area appears substantially the same as it did prior to exploration, with no visible damage or hazard remaining. Failure to do so may result in liability for injury.
Source of the quoted text: Parks and Recreation Public Policy Manual, section 13160, Resolution 09-10. Section dated 27 October 2009; updated 17 November 2020, 27 February 2025 and 23 July 2026.
Published by the city at bloomington.in.gov/parks/parks. The manual is hosted as a Google Doc, so the host is not municipal. The City of Bloomington's own parks page links to it as "Parks and Recreation's Policy regarding use of metal detectors", and that is what vouches for it.
2. The state rule also applies
On a sand swimming beach that an authorized representative has approved, and nowhere else on Department of Natural Resources property; digging or excavating is separately prohibited across all DNR property, so a find cannot lawfully be recovered without a license. Separately and across the whole state, IC 14-21-1-26 requires a department-approved plan before ground is disturbed in order to find artifacts – an artifact being anything formed, made, modified or used before 31 December 1870 under IC 14-21-1-2 – a Class A misdemeanour to violate and a Level 6 felony where human remains are disturbed. IC 14-21-1-29 adds a stop-and-notify duty for an artifact found while disturbing the ground for some other purpose.
3. County rules
Awaiting review.