Hello, Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park,

My name is Jim Howe, and I’m honored to serve as the President of the Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all of you who share a love for this incredible park!

The Friends of JDSP serve as the park’s Citizen Support Organization (CSO). Our mission is to support the park’s operations by allowing the community to contribute directly to its success. Through fundraising, advocacy, and volunteerism, we ensure that JDSP remains a beautiful, accessible, and thriving space for everyone to enjoy.

Recently, we completed the beautiful Chickee Pavilion, located near the Kimbell Center and along the scenic Loxahatchee River. Soon, it will be available for rentals, offering a perfect outdoor venue for weddings, family reunions, group outings, and more.

We also step in to address budget gaps when needed. For instance, we’ve funded replacement parts for the park’s playgrounds, which will be back up and running in the coming weeks, ready for kids to enjoy again.

Another exciting project we’ve launched is raising funds to rebuild the iconic Hobe Mountain Tower. As Martin County continues its commitment to conservation, we believe the tower will become a true symbol of the area and a cherished landmark for generations to come.

Beyond these initiatives, I also have the privilege of leading the park’s Jay Walks, where visitors can experience the unique beauty of the scrub habitat and meet the Florida Scrub Jay, our state’s only endemic bird. These walks are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month (October–May) at 9 AM. I’d love for you to join us and say “hello!”

Thank you for your continued support of Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Together, we’re making a difference.

Warm regards,

Jim Howe
President, Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Jim Howe, September 2024, Olympic National Park

Executive Board

James Howe - President

Jim Howe is a retired mechanical design engineer, who moved to the area in 2003. He has volunteered in Florida State Parks since 2010, with over 2200 volunteer hours served. A Florida Master Naturalist, he leads JDSP’s Florida Scrub Jay Walks. Jim is Conservation Chair of Audubon of Martin County, and hopes the two organizations can both benefit from the crossover. He is also a no-nonsense engineer who will view the park’s many factors practically and provide input accordingly.

Janet Farnan-Dyer - Vice President/Secretary

Bio Coming Soon

Zachary Graeve — Treasurer

A versatile strategist and entrepreneur with a talent for turning complex ideas into compelling stories and strategies that resonate. With a career spanning corporate communications, investor relations, finance, and business consulting, blends a deep understanding of capital markets with a creative flair for branding and design. Experienced in collaborating with executive teams and serving on boards, aligning strategic goals with authentic audience connections. An IRC-credentialed professional, driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to helping companies and organizations communicate their vision with clarity and impact.

Board Members

Wendy Morse

Experienced Leader with a demonstrated history of working in government administration and the non-profit sector. A passionate community servant, Wendy was responsible for Leading Public Life Strategy and Prioritization, Coordinating Internal Public Realm Communications, and Innovative Public Engagement that fostered a vibrant public life and comfortable public realm in the City of West Palm Beach. She formerly served as a Captain of Police with the West Palm Beach Police Department where she focused on Community Initiatives, Training, and Development.

Shawna Williams

Shawna began her mountain bike journey 12 years ago riding throughout Florida and other states. Being self-taught, she learned a lot the hard way, watching YouTube and asking questions at bike shops. In the early years, she realized it was unusual to see a woman on the trails, today it thrills her to see how women have embraced the sport for fun and becoming competitive too. Her goal is to make the park a place where all enthusiastic riders can enjoy. She would like to accommodate all riders, from new ones taking up the sport, to experienced riders looking for a challenge. Shawna asks that all mountain bike enthusiasts join her in the effort to make the Camp Murphy Bike Trails at Jonathan Dickinson a world class opportunity for Mountain Bike Riding.

Jeff Orr

Bio Coming Soon

Chris Suttman

Chris has lived, worked, and played in Jupiter since 1990. An avid mountain biker, kayaker, and hiker, he often enjoys these activities at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and is happy to give back to the park he loves so much. Chris has worked in IT since the mid 90's doing everything from networking to database/software/website design and development for financial services companies. He now brings these skills to help with IT functions with The Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

Amanda Kyle

As a seasoned professional with a passion for community engagement and strategic planning, Amanda has over 15 years of experience in project management and event production. Her expertise lies in steering large-scale projects, managing budgets, and ensuring operational efficiency. Additionally, as the owner of Timberline Glamping at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Amanda is deeply connected to the local community and adept at showcasing the park's attractions. Her dedication to crafting meaningful guest experiences fuels her commitment to community engagement and sustainability initiatives.