Board Policy - Section Number: 10.08.00.00

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide Annual Regional Park Entrance Passes at discounted fees or at no cost for Hillsborough County veterans and surviving spouses and parents.

Policy

To allow for the issuance of annual regional park entrance passes at a 25% discount for active duty members and honorably discharged veterans of the US Armed Forces, National Guard, or reserve components thereof and to provide lifetime family annual regional park entrance passes at no charge for honorably discharged veterans who have service-connected disabilities, and lifetime family entrance passes for the surviving spouse and parents of deceased members of the Armed Forces, National Guard, or reserve components thereof who have fallen in combat. Satisfactory written documentation is required for issuance of these passes. The following written documentation will be considered in determining eligibility:

25% discount on Annual Entrance Passes

For active duty and honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces, National Guard or reserve units of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard.

• Current military identification card showing the bearer as active duty, reserve, or retired member of a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, or
• Personal identification (i.e.: driver license, etc.) indicating Hillsborough County residency and
• Most recent DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, showing the named individual's Character of Service as Honorable, or
• Other current official documentation from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs or an
• appropriate branch of one of those agencies, naming the bearer as active duty, reserve, veteran, or retired member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Free Lifetime Family Park Entrance Passes

For honorably discharged United States veterans who have service-connected disabilities.

• Personal identification (i.e.: driver license) indicating Hillsborough County residency and
• Current official documentation from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs or an appropriate branch of one of those agencies, naming the bearer as having sustained a service-related disability, and
• Most recent DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, showing the named individual's Character of Service as Honorable, or
• Other current official documentation from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs or an appropriate branch of one of those agencies, naming the bearer as veteran, or retired military.

Free Lifetime Family Entrance Passes

For surviving spouses and parents of deceased members of the United States Armed Forces, National Guard or reserve units of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard who have fallen in combat.

• Personal identification (i.e.: driver license) indicating Hillsborough County residency and
• The DD Form 1300, Report of Casualty, showing the Place of Casualty was a combat or war zone on the Date of Casualty, the Circumstances indicate that the casualty was due to enemy action and the Interested Person/Remarks indicates the bearer is the spouse or parent of the military member who has fallen in combat, or
• The final DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, showing the date of death as the same date as the date of separation, and
• A marriage certificate or license, birth or death certificate, or adoption papers showing the bearer as the spouse or parent of the military member who has fallen in combat.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Veteran’s Affairs Office and the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department to ensure compliance with this policy.