Update: County Creates Free Vets Passes for Parks and Campgrounds

Update, 2:45 p.m. Wednesday: The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 Wednesday to adopt a program to allow certain military veterans free use of county parks and campgrounds, as a way to thank them for their service. “This a very special group of veterans that would pay nothing to access our county parks and campsites, and why would we do this, because they've already sacrificed so very much,” Supervisor Dianne Jacob said.

The state estimated each Distinguished Veteran Pass was used 13 times a year for day use and six times a year for camping, Jacob said.  In 2010, veterans spent more than 4,000 nights camping at state parks in San Diego County, she said.

“Wounded veterans, former POWs and Medal of Honor recipients make up a special class of veterans. Their contributions and their remarkable stories of bravery and loss remind us that we can never pay veterans enough,” Jacob said. “All the free park passes in the world will not do justice to these selfless men and women.”

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The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider a proposal to let certain military veterans have free use of county parks and campgrounds.

Supervisor Dianne Jacob wants the county to develop a program similar to the state's Distinguished Veterans Pass, which provides free access to state facilities.

Jacob's plan is for veterans who qualify for the state pass to be eligible for free use of county parks.

Honorably discharged veterans who live in California and are either disabled, were prisoners of war or are Medal of Honor recipients are entitled to free camping, day use and private boat use at state parks, she said.

The state has issued nearly 23,000 distinguished veterans passes since the program started in 1979.

Jacob estimates San Diego County is home to about 230,000 veterans, and free access is a way to express thanks.

– City News Service