Legal Definitions - public ground

Public ground refers to lands or land interests held by the government, without regard to how the government acquired ownership. It includes unappropriated land belonging to the federal or state government. Public ground is also known as public land or government land.

Examples of public ground include:

• Public lands owned by the federal or state government
• Swamp and overflowed land that was granted out of the U.S. public domain to the littoral states by acts of Congress in 1850 and thereafter
• School land, which is public real estate set apart for sale or exploitation by a state to establish and fund public schools

These examples illustrate how public ground can be used for various purposes, such as conservation, education, and public benefit. The government has the responsibility to manage and protect public ground for the benefit of all citizens.