There are many reasons to visit and fall in love with Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The park boasts 10,500 pristine acres of The Real Florida. It serves as a protected buffer zone between the rapidly growing communities of Martin County to the north and the burgeoning Miami-to-Jupiter corridor to the south.

JDSP showcases exemplary examples of many natural Florida ecosystems, including portions of the Loxahatchee National Wild and Scenic River.

It's a living museum, helping to preserve over 5,000 years of human history that have unfolded along the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County. It is here where the Jobe Indians hunted, local icon Trapper Nelson lived, and some 6,000 Army Signal Corps trainees learned RADAR during World War II.

Most of all, the park is a place where people can relax and recreate. People of all interests come here, whether to hike the wilderness section, canoe the Loxahatchee, or pursue interests as diverse as mountain biking, wildlife painting, and environmental education. Whatever your special interest, folks like me have answered an inner calling to belong to the Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

The Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park sponsors and supports a wide range of activities. Our goals are always the same, however: to further the education program of the Kimbell Environmental Education Center and aid the park staff with volunteers and special projects.

Come on in—the gate's wide open. Whether it's holding a child's hand as you walk the Kitching Creek Trail or watching a blue heron stalk a fish along the Loxahatchee, you may hear—and heed—the same call heard by the more than 300 members who make up the Friends of JDSP.

Executive Board

Wendy Morse - President

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.

Janet Farnan-Dyer - Vice President/Secretary

Bio Coming Soon

Janet Rios - Treasurer

Detailed, solution-oriented (Six Sigma certified) Senior Accountant with 15+ years of experience managing financial planning and analysis (i.e., projections and metrics), improving full-cycle accounting processes, and customizing reporting deliverables across various industries. Avid Bicycle Enthusiast.

Board Members

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.

James Howe

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 VP 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.

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.

Zachary Graeve

Zachary is a versatile communications and marketing professional with a knack for crafting innovative engagement strategies and impactful messaging. With a background in corporate governance and community engagement, he offers comprehensive insights into strategic planning and effective communication. Leveraging a robust network of local businesses and media contacts, Zachary excels in bringing exposure to his causes while fostering collaborative partnerships within the community.

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.

Jeff Orr

Bio Coming Soon

Vince Boccard

Bio Coming Soon

Amy Saperstein

Bio Coming Soon

Rebecca Beckett

Bio Coming Soon

Contractors