News Release

Now Issuing Free Federal Recreational Lands Passes

News Release Date: April 18, 2024

Contact: Gina Hernandez, 915-532-7273 ext. 5216

Chamizal National Memorial Superintendent Gerardo Gonzalez is pleased to announce that the memorial is once again issuing the free America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes. These passes cover entrance fees and standard amenity fees (day use fees) at lands managed by the National Park Service and other federal land management agencies.

“Residents in the El Paso area have several amazing national parks nearby,” said Superintendent Gonzalez. “These passes help make visiting national parks more affordable for many families. Start your national parks journey with a free visit to Chamizal—El Paso’s national park—and talk to our rangers about the park passes and how you can use them to visit over 400 other sites in the National Park Service.”

Federal recreational lands passes were not issued at the memorial for a time while local participation in the national pass program was reviewed and updated. Requirements for issuing the for-fee passes were determined to be cost prohibitive for Chamizal National Memorial, which is a fee free park. While the memorial will no longer sell the Annual, Senior Annual, or Senior Lifetime passes, they are available for purchase at national parks and federal recreational lands that charge an entrance fee.

As a service to our visitors and local community, Chamizal National Memorial will continue to issue the free federal recreational lands passes:

• Military Annual for current U.S. military personnel and their dependents

• Military Lifetime for U.S. Military veterans and Gold Star Family members

• Access, a lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, regardless of age, who have been medically determined to have a permanent disability that severely limits one or more major life activities

• Every Kid Outdoors, an annual pass available to 4^th grade students each year from September 1 through August 31

Passes are issued at the Chamizal National Memorial Cultural Center during regular hours of operation. Check eligibility and documentation requirements for each pass before you go. For additional questions or to confirm availability, call the Cultural Center information desk, 915-532-7273 ext. 5201.

Chamizal National Memorial: El Paso’s national park, where history and culture come to life.