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FRIENDS OF ST. ANDREWS STATE PARK
"CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO ST. ANDREWS STATE PARK"
We are Friends of St. Andrews State Park
We are nature lovers, families, artists, beach walkers, photographers, retirees, bird watchers, writers, who
volunteer our time to help support the Park.
FUNDRAISING - SPEAKERS - EVENTS - MEETINGS - BONFIRES - PARTIES
Thanks everyone who joined us tonight for our Friends bird walk event at St. Andrews State Park and a special thank you to Mary Jo Capra, for leading us in this event.
Join us Thursday, May 19, 5 pm at Gator Lake for a bird walk with Mary Jo Capra who will lead the viewing!
HAPPY EARTH DAY!
COME SEE US AT OUR BOOTH 10:00-4:00PM
http://www.earthdaybaycounty.com/
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR EARTH DAY VOLUNTEERS!!
WE HAVE THE BEST!!!
WE HAVE THE BEST!!!
2022 CHILI COOKOUT
MUSIC: BEACH UKULELE MUSIC SOCIETY
Wonderful Chili Cookout with fantastic live entertainment from the Beach Ukulele Music Society! Thank you to everyone who performed and supported our event!! It was a great way to kickoff the newly renovated Group Campground at St. Andrews State Park and CONGRATULATIONS to all our new members!
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO JOINED US FOR OUR FIRST MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM FOR 2022
Thank you to presenter Ricky Cassell!
OUR NEW 2022 BOARD MET TOGETHER TO PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT FRIENDS!
1ST ANNUAL ST. ANDREWS STATE PARK RUN/SUP SPLASH & DASH
THANK YOU ALL PARTICIPANTS, SPONSORS & VOLUNTEERS!
SPLASH & DASH
CHECK OUT OUR SPLASH & DASH RADIO COMMERCIAL BEACH 95.1
KICKING OFF OUR PADDLEBOARD DONATION RAFFLE!
Boardmember Karen Fitzsimons officially announcing the Raffle has started today!
PADDLEBOARD DONATION RAFFLE!!
WINNER: LEAH FIELDS
WINNER: LEAH FIELDS
Congratulations to our Paddleboard winner, Leah Thomas (below).
And a huge "thank you" to all who purchased tickets AND to the Florida State Park for donating the Paddleboard.
We raised $1500 to keep our beautiful Park the best in Florida.
Leah Thomas (left) and Kim Hardin, our Boardmember presented the winner with a brand new
10 ft. long Rigid Paddleboard with paddle, bag, sunglasses, hat, towel and booklet.
10 ft. long Rigid Paddleboard with paddle, bag, sunglasses, hat, towel and booklet.
The Friends of St. Andrews State Park, Inc. is a nonprofit citizen support organization formed in support of St. Andrews State Park. The Friends members work to support the Florida State Parks mission “to provide resource-based recreation while preserving, interpreting and restoring natural and cultural resources.” We have been actively assisting the Florida Park Service with this mission since 1991.
CSO Adopted Code of Ethics: www.floridastateparks.org/content/cso-model-code-ethics
CSO Adopted Code of Ethics: www.floridastateparks.org/content/cso-model-code-ethics
BOARD MEMBERS: KIM FITZSIMONS, DAVID BROOKS, KIM HARDIN
SELLING NEW T-SHIRTS, HATS, PADDLEBOARD TICKETS & MEMBERSHIPS!!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS TO FRIENDS!!!
SELLING NEW T-SHIRTS, HATS, PADDLEBOARD TICKETS & MEMBERSHIPS!!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS TO FRIENDS!!!
T-SHIRTS & HATS HAVE ARRIVED! WE'RE SELLING THEM!!
New Aquarium purchased for the Visitor's Center by Friends
PARK FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND
Phase 1 (Completed) Phase 2 - Ongoing
Phase 1 (Completed) Phase 2 - Ongoing
An exciting announcement:
The Board identified a goal to replace the children’s playground in the Park. Due to age and destruction from Michael it was removed and therefore there is no playground in the Park. We initiated a fund raising campaign, including applying for grants.
We are delighted to announce that the St. Joe Community Foundation awarded us a $69,000 grant. What a wonderful commitment to our park and community.
This means that Phase 1 of our goal can be accomplished. We will continue to raise funds for Phase 2 to provide additional play activities, benches at the edge of the playground, and other enhancements for children and visitors. We will keep you informed of progress and look forward to your ongoing support.
Below is the check presentation by April Wilkes from the Foundation to members of the board and LeAnn Hinson, Assistant Park Manager.
The Board identified a goal to replace the children’s playground in the Park. Due to age and destruction from Michael it was removed and therefore there is no playground in the Park. We initiated a fund raising campaign, including applying for grants.
We are delighted to announce that the St. Joe Community Foundation awarded us a $69,000 grant. What a wonderful commitment to our park and community.
This means that Phase 1 of our goal can be accomplished. We will continue to raise funds for Phase 2 to provide additional play activities, benches at the edge of the playground, and other enhancements for children and visitors. We will keep you informed of progress and look forward to your ongoing support.
Below is the check presentation by April Wilkes from the Foundation to members of the board and LeAnn Hinson, Assistant Park Manager.
Thank you to BEACH 95.1 for their $1000.00 Donation to Friends of St. Andrews State Park for the Children's Playground at the Park! The donation will include approx. 100 - 30 second commercials or approx.. 60 - 60 second commercials. We are beyond grateful! Thank you again to BEACH 95.1!! LISTEN BELOW:
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The News Herald has written a full length article about Friends
www.newsherald.com/story/lifestyle/2021/02/09/friends-st-andrews-state-park-panama-city-turns-30-years-old/4359724001/
www.newsherald.com/story/lifestyle/2021/02/09/friends-st-andrews-state-park-panama-city-turns-30-years-old/4359724001/
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. . . . . . . . . . . . Exciting Plans for St. Andrews State Park . . . . . . . . . . . .
Planning for enhancements to the Park began before Hurricane Michael. Obviously, the hurricane changed priorities to massive clean up and repair. According to Scott Robinson, Park Manager, plans are now moving ahead. Processes are taking longer due to the pandemic and economy, but are moving along.
All the roads are to be redone and with a bike path and pedestrian path added. This major project will also include improvements to the entrance area and expansion of existing parking areas. Surveys have been completed and work is under way on the design for construction.
The campground area upgrades, a multimillion dollar project, will include raising sites to reduce flooding, new water and electricity throughout, newer sewer connections at sites, new lift stations and repaving the roads. Bids have been received, a contractor selected and work should begin in the next 6 months.
Pavilions at the Jetty area will be rebuilt including three large ones and one small one, plus new picnic tables. It is currently in the design and permitting process and should begin in the next few months.
The Lagoon area was hard hit by the hurricane. Several new pavilions will be built for the picnic area. Plus, the bathrooms there are scheduled for a totally new facility. This work should start by early next year. The children's playground in that area will need to be completely replaced. Friends of St. Andrews State Park is helping with the fund raising for that project.
Improvements are also scheduled for the Primitive Group Campground, including a new restroom, a dining/activity pavilion with some safety lights and fans, picnic tables, grills, and rebuilding the firepit.
Finally, so many trees were lost and mother nature will help replace the forested areas. In the developed areas of the Park, news trees will be planted as construction ends.
Yes, an exciting time! We all love the park and let's all work together to help the park. Volunteers are needed for picking up litter, helping to disinfect, helping with the aluminum can recycling project, etc. You can also help by joining Friends and making a donation to Friends for the playground project. www.friendsofstandrews.org.
Let's work together for our park now and its bright future ahead ! Parry Knauss, President, Friends of St. Andrews State Park
The Park Needs You, Please Join
We invite you to design your own membership.
Some busy members choose to express their support through annual dues only.
Others devote many volunteer hours to the park, and find time for socializing, relaxing, and enjoying the result of their labors while building new friendships within the Friends.
Volunteers are needed for our special events, recycling, work projects, meeting and greeting, and more. Special event volunteers can serve on the planning committees, run errands, assist with preparation and set-up, or work the event.
The Friends Board of Directors meet monthly and all members are invited to sit in and observe those meetings. General member meetings consist of one Annual Meeting and other meetings as needed. Meetings usually include interesting speakers and light refreshments. Special member and volunteer events include a Christmas party in December and a Chili Cookout usually held in March.
Member Benefits: Members enter the park free of charge for all meetings and events and work projects. In addition, each member is allowed free entry to the park 12 times during the membership year.
Some busy members choose to express their support through annual dues only.
Others devote many volunteer hours to the park, and find time for socializing, relaxing, and enjoying the result of their labors while building new friendships within the Friends.
Volunteers are needed for our special events, recycling, work projects, meeting and greeting, and more. Special event volunteers can serve on the planning committees, run errands, assist with preparation and set-up, or work the event.
The Friends Board of Directors meet monthly and all members are invited to sit in and observe those meetings. General member meetings consist of one Annual Meeting and other meetings as needed. Meetings usually include interesting speakers and light refreshments. Special member and volunteer events include a Christmas party in December and a Chili Cookout usually held in March.
Member Benefits: Members enter the park free of charge for all meetings and events and work projects. In addition, each member is allowed free entry to the park 12 times during the membership year.
"So proud to be a member of this group that works effortlessly to raise money exclusively for our beautiful St. Andrew's State Park. We need your help with our ongoing projects for all to enjoy, please visit our page and become a member today!" -Karen Fitzsimons, Volunteer board member, Nature Photographer
