Friends of Weedon Island

08/28/2026

https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2026/08/20/weedon-island-shell-key-pinellas-funding/

Meanwhile, county leaders say securing state funding for both parks will be a priority.

08/26/2026

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/September-at-Weedon-Island-Preserve.html?soid=1101583303808&aid=08eS2LkPxic

Email from Pinellas County Government BEE a Citizen Scientist and join the Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz! View as Webpage Upcoming Events at the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural & Natural History Cent

08/18/2026

It's a GO........... REGISTER HERE:

https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/SaintPetersburg/GopherWeedonTrailRun

08/16/2026

Help keep Weedon Island Preserve open! The current county budget for next year defunds the preserve, handing it back to the State to manage. If you want Weedon Island Preserve parkrun to stay open, make your voice heard!

08/14/2026

08/12/2026

Join the Friends of of Weedon Island as we continue to monitor and oppose the closing of the Weedon Island Preserve.

Check out the page: https://friendsofweedonisland.org/

We are a 501c3 non-profit all volunteer organization that, through education, protection, and preservation, supports a 3,200 acre Preserve.

Members and Volunteers are always welcome!

Friends of Weedon Island is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting conservation, education, and recreational activities at Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg, FL. Get involved today!

08/11/2026

Hello Friends of Weedon Island!

The Pinellas Board of County Commissioners met today for their initial budget workshop. Thanks to you, they received more than 150 comments in support of preserving Weedon Island – in person, over Zoom, and by email. You can watch the meeting on Youtube here:

Start of comment: https://youtu.be/ndO-OcaVVqE&t=1510
Beginning of budget workshop: https://youtu.be/ndO-OcaVVqE&t=6311
Beginning of Weedon Island discussion: https://youtu.be/ndO-OcaVVqE&t=8312

The initial news was positive! Weedon Island dominated the conversation about next year's potential cuts, and Commissioners were unanimous in a desire to find a solution that preserves Weedon: Dipping into the County's General Fund, seeking state funding, or making cuts elsewhere.

HOWEVER, no action was taken to remove Weedon from the list of potential cuts. Even if the State is able to cover the cost that money would not be available until the middle of next year, leaving a gap.

We will keep up the pressure. If you have not yet contacted the Commission, please reach out and express your support for Weedon, especially if you're a Pinellas resident. If you aren't yet a member of the Friends, please consider joining us. And please keep alert to our page and share it with friends and family who love our history – both human and natural – and want to see it preserved.

Our elected officials respond to us. They respond to our advocacy. And together we can keep Weedon safe today, tomorrow, and for generations to come."

Peter

Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting

08/09/2026

It has been suggested by a member that I resend this message with the link for submitting comments to the Board of County Commissioners. Comments must be received by 5PM Monday (8/10). The link is provided below. The BOCC meeting is 8/11/2026 and the Agenda Item is 26-0831A

https://www.mypinellasclerk.gov/Home/Finance #1639309-bcc-meetings

Yesterday we received a notice from the Pinellas County Department of Parks and Conservation Resources that, as part of their Fiscal Year 2027 budget, they are proposing to terminate the agreement with the State of Florida to manage the Weedon Island Preserve effective January 1, 2027. This change must be approved by the Board of County Commissioners as part of the larger County budgeting process currently underway. It appears highly unlikely that the State would be able and willing to take over the management of the Preserve in a timely manner, and so it is very likely that the Preserve and its Education would be closed, at least temporarily.

We have posted on the Friends website both the notice from Parks and Conservation Resources and an article that appeared in today’s edition of The Catalyst, an online news outlet. The article was written by Peter Wahlberg of our Board and provides much useful background information. The website is available at the following address: https://friendsofweedonisland.org/

We strongly encourage all members to review this information and express your support for the continued operation of the Preserve to members of the County Commission. We will provide additional information on how best to do this in a subsequent message.

Bill Fehring, President