LANSING, Mich. — Sens. Michael Webber and Paul Wojno on Thursday announced bipartisan legislation to allow Gold Star families to enjoy Michigan’s state parks at no charge.
“We owe a tremendous debt to our Gold Star families for everything they have sacrificed in defense of liberty here in America and around the world,” said Webber, R-Rochester Hills. “In the spirit of Memorial Day, we’re proposing free access to 103 state parks as a small way to honor that debt and show our deep appreciation for them and the ultimate sacrifice made by their loved ones in service to our country.”
Senate Bills 1005 and 1006 would provide free access to Michigan state parks for individuals with a Gold Star Family license plate.
“It’s difficult to fully express our gratitude to our fallen heroes and their families,” said Wojno, D-Warren. “Our bipartisan measures would extend the free state park access benefit that the state already gives to disabled veterans and former prisoners of war to Michigan’s Gold Star families.”
Michigan offers a special Gold Star Family license plate to immediate family members of military personnel who lost their lives in combat. Eligible relatives include spouses, parents, stepparents, foster parents, siblings, half-siblings, children and stepchildren.
To enter a state park, residents must buy a recreation passport, which currently costs $15 per year for motorized vehicles when purchased online and $19 per year when bought at a state park entrance.
Michigan-registered vehicles currently exempt from the recreation passport requirement include vehicles with an ex-prisoner of war license plate, disabled veteran plate, Medal of Honor plate and Congressional Medal of Honor plate.
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