A C172 INSTRUCTOR PLT AND HIS STUDENT LAND ON A CLOSED GRASS RWY AFTER OBSERVING SPRAY PAINTED X'S FOR EACH END OF THE RWY BUT PLACED OUTSIDE OF THE RWY CONFINES AT 3W3; MD.

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MY THIRD STUDENT OF THE DAY ASKED ME TO TAKE HIM TO 3W3 TO INSURE THAT HE WOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT AND ITS ENVIRONMENTS WHEN HE TOOK HIS WIFE TO THE RESTAURANT THERE (HE IS A PVT PLT WITH ABOUT 300 HRS EXPERIENCE). THE CURRENT AFD GAVE THE USUAL NOISE ABATEMENTS AND CAUTIONS ABOUT SOFT TURF AFTER RAIN -- NOTHING ABOUT A RWY CLOSURE. WE FLEW A FAIRLY WIDE DOWNWIND TO RWY 28; ONLY NOTICING ON SHORT FINAL SOME ORANGE SPRAY PAINT IN THE GRASS JUST SHORT OF THE ORANGE CONE THRESHOLD. IT WAS NOT CLRLY AN 'X' AND I ASSUMED IT INDICATED SOFT; UNUSABLE AREA SHORT OF THE RWY. WE WENT AHEAD AND LANDED. AT THE OTHER END THERE WAS MORE ORANGE SPRAY PAINT OUTSIDE THE APCH THRESHOLD. SINCE 3W3 IS A PUBLIC ARPT AND THE SPRAY WAS OUTSIDE THE RWY THRESHOLDS; WE TOOK OFF. (WE HAD LANDED WITH A SLIGHT TAILWIND; PER NOISE ABATEMENT PROCS; BUT DECIDED THE EASTERLY WIND WOULD JUSTIFY TAKING OFF INTO THE WIND AND OVER THE HOUSES.) AFTER CLBING OUT WE FLEW BACK OVER THE FIELD AT 2000 FT AND CLRLY NOTICED THE ORANGE X'S AT BOTH ENDS. UPON RETURN TO HOME BASE (VKX IN FRIENDLY; MD); I DID WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE BEFORE THE FLT AND CALLED THE FSS (ALTOONA) FOR NOTAMS. HE SAID 3W3 WAS CLOSED TO TRANSIENT ACFT. CAN A PUBLIC ARPT; HAVING USED FEDERAL FUNDS; BE CLOSED TO SOME BUT OPEN TO OTHERS? IF SO; CAN IT POST ORANGE X'S ON GRASS OUTSIDE THE RWY THRESHOLDS? EVEN THE FSS SPECIALIST HAD LANDED AT 3W3 TO EAT AT THE POPULAR MARINA RESTAURANT (AS I HAVE DONE DOZENS OF TIMES). HE COULD NOT RECALL HAVING SEEN SUCH A DISCRIMINATORY NOTAM FOR A PUBLIC ARPT. NEVERTHELESS; I FULLY INTEND TO CHK NOTAMS BEFORE GOING INTO ANY ARPT IN THE FUTURE. HAVING GIVEN 2300 HRS OF DUAL INSTRUCTIONS; I WILL TEACH MY STUDENTS TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT DOING THE SAME.