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.

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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 ​

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/
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FUNDRAISING - SPEAKERS -  EVENTS - MEETINGS - BONFIRES - PARTIES

  .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    . 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 Friends 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. 

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