KENNESAW, Ga. — Word was out a few weeks ago, now it's reality for visitors to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park - if you want to drive and park your car there, you now must pay an entrance fee as of Nov. 13.

Inside the park's visitors center Wednesday, a small line of park-goers paid either $5 for a daily pass, or $40 for an annual. "We did not have long lines, but we did have lines," said Marjorie Thomas, interpretive ranger at the park.

Passes can only be purchased with a credit or debit card. Aside from in-person, visitors can also buy them online.

The first three years, 100% of the fees collected go right back into the park.  After that, it drops to 80%, with the remaining 20% of proceeds to go to National Park Service to be distributed to smaller parks in the U.S. that don’t collect fees.

"We've already identified some big-ticket items - we want to purchase a second shuttle bus," Thomas tells WSB Radio. A second restroom for the south end of the park is also planned.

Aside from those wants, money is earmarked to pay for backlogged maintenance projects, visitor enhancement, and resource management work, like shoring-up the Civil War-era earthworks in the park.

Opinion from park-goers Wednesday on now having to pay fees, pretty much positive.

"I have no objection to it, not at all. I just think we're very lucky to have this available to us," says Carol of Marietta, who's enjoyed the park for 40 years.

"I enjoy the old days when the national parks were ours to enjoy without having to pay additional money outside of our taxes." But Jody and his wife, visiting from Utah, say the fee is reasonable compared to parking anywhere in a downtown area.

Micah from Marietta is a regular user of the park. "40 dollars (an annual pass) for me is pretty reasonable. If the funding is going to the park...I'm pretty supportive."

The park's Thomas says feedback she's getting, is supportive of the fees. "A lot of people want to know where the funds are going to. Once they understand that, people have been very pleasant and positive about the whole thing."

Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield gets more than two and a half million visitors every year.