The Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure to begin eliminating vehicle entry fees for veterans and active-duty military at county-run parks. The proposal, sponsored by Supervisors Garry Bredefeld and Nathan Magsig and presented one week before Veterans Day, directs county staff to work out the policy specifics and set an implementation timetable.

Currently, vehicle entry at county parks costs $5 per day or $40 annually. County budgeting documents accompanying the action estimate approximately $21,000 in forgone revenue if roughly 4,200 eligible residents make use of the waived fees. The board vote does not yet enact the full administrative changes; it initiates the process of drafting the final policy and operational steps needed to deliver the benefit.

The decision affects veterans and members of the active-duty military who use Fresno County’s parks. For many households, eliminating the per-vehicle charge removes a modest but tangible barrier to recreational access at county facilities. For veterans’ families and service members, the change is intended to broaden access to outdoor spaces that support recreation and family activities.

From an institutional perspective, the unanimous vote signals broad supervisory support for the initiative. Sponsorship by Bredefeld and Magsig and the timing ahead of Veterans Day underline the county’s intent to prioritize recognition of veterans at the local level. The board’s direction now shifts responsibility to county departments to define eligibility verification, pass distribution or decals if used, and how the waived fees will be tracked administratively.

Financially, the county’s $21,000 estimate frames the policy as a limited cost relative to broader county revenues, but the final fiscal impact will depend on actual take-up rates, administrative costs to implement eligibility verification systems, and any changes in park usage that follow the fee elimination. County staff will need to reconcile those factors as they draft the final policy and present details back to the board.

For local residents, key questions remain about eligibility verification, when the waiver will take effect, and how the county will communicate changes to park visitors. The board’s vote begins the procedural work; the public will be able to evaluate the final proposal when staff return with an implementation plan. Community members and veterans’ organizations interested in the specifics should monitor upcoming county meetings and posted agendas to track how the policy moves from direction to practice.