Delaware State Parks Passes for Veterans and Service Members

Delaware state parks charge entry from March 1 to November 30. Title 7, section 4701, subsection (a), paragraph (5) sets the veteran discounts. The Delaware Military Pass. Paragraph e.: a resident "who has honorably served or is honorably serving in the armed forces of the United States, including service as a member of the Delaware National Guard", and who owns a vehicle registered in Delaware, pays half the resident annual fee for each registered vehicle. The resident annual pass is $50, so the Military Pass is $25. The Division of Parks and Recreation sells it only at park offices, not online or at retail agents, on proof of service (a military ID or a DD-214), a Delaware driver licence and the vehicle registration in your name at the same address. Family members cannot buy it. The Iraq and Afghanistan pass. Paragraph d.: a resident who served honorably for 90 or more consecutive days on active duty, including in the Delaware Guard, "in military actions in Southwest Asia associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom" gets free admission to every state park for the first twelve months after being honorably discharged or removed from active status. It is issued only at the Office of Business Services at 89 Kings Highway, Dover. Service members with out-of-state plates. The Division sells an Out-of-State Military Vehicle Pass at half the non-resident price to active duty members stationed in Delaware. The route most disabled veterans miss. Paragraph c. exempts Delaware residents "who are disabled, and who hold a valid and current Gold Access Passport Card" from all entrance fees. The Gold Access Passport is the old name for the federal America the Beautiful Access Pass, and the Division honours the Access Pass today and gives Access Pass holders 20 percent off camping. The Access Pass is a free lifetime pass for a person with a permanent disability, and the National Park Service accepts a federal agency document such as a VA letter showing eligibility for benefits because of a medically determined permanent disability. So a veteran who gets the federal pass gets Delaware parks free, not half price. Veterans organizations. Paragraph a. says no fee may be imposed on a recognized veterans service organization using a state park for patriotic or memorial services with 15 days' written notice. Title 22, section 109 says the same for municipal parks. A senior 65 or older can also buy a lifetime pass for $45 once under paragraph b.2.