I have thought a long time about what would be the best thing to say about the Friends of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park. It took me back to my first days here as a new Park Manager and meeting the first park President and her husband. I thought about my initial meeting with the supporters and the challenges I faced.

What would a prospective member want to know?

Then I thought, this is really simple. The Friends were formed by a group of local residents who loved this park and wanted to give something back to it. They learned about the Mission of the Florida Park Service and how we are here: To provide resource-based recreation while preserving, interpreting and restoring natural and cultural resources. In short, we are charged with preserving this piece of original, natural Florida for future generations.

The Friends look to the Park Management for direction in how they can help us accomplish that mission. Since I have been here, they have helped in many different ways. They come once a month and do clean-up days, or come in after a holiday weekend to help us with cleaning up the park. They started a recycling program which helps recycle aluminum, glass and plastic and in turn they receive the funds from the aluminum. They have done fundraisers which are special programs aimed at educating the public about the natural environment, the park and why it is important that we are here. They hold monthly membership meetings where they are kept current with the park's operation and to plan for events and other activities. They have worked with the staff to remove exotic plants and help maintain and restore the native plant species displaced by them. Some even help us with facility maintenance and visitor services.

So, if you have a feeling of stewardship and think this is something you would like to do please take the time to read this web site, designed by one of our members, and attend a meeting. I think you will be pleased you did.

Robert M. Steiger,
Park Manager