Aerial of Pinellas County looking from downtown Saint Petersburg Florida

The Wave

Your Pinellas County Government Newsletter

March 2026

A glance at people, programs & news from Pinellas County!

Bayside Bridge renamed Dillinger McCabe Bayside Bridge

Pinellas County recently unveiled signs for the renamed Dillinger McCabe Bayside Bridge at a roadside ceremony featuring members of the Dillinger and McCabe families, Pinellas County Commission Chair Dave Eggers, Commission Vice-Chair Chris Latvala, Chief Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Shawn Crane, and Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector.

After joining the Office of the Public Defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in 1976 as an Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Dillinger was elected Public Defender in 1996. He served the Sixth Circuit with distinction from 1997 until his retirement in 2024.

Mr. McCabe devoted 48 years to public service in Florida. Beginning as an Assistant State Attorney, he was first elected Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney in 1992 and served in that role for over 25 years.

Adversaries in the courtroom, Robert "Bob" Dillinger and Bernard "Bernie" McCabe collaborated to improve the justice system, enhance community safety, and protect the rights and dignity of all citizens. Learn more at on our website.

Photo of a brown dog in a flower frame. Text on the photo reads Spring Free from the Shelter. Waived fees for longest stays through May 31

Help a long stay animal Spring Free from the Shelter

Pinellas County Animal Services is launching a new “Spring Free from the Shelter” adoption campaign to get our longest-waiting pets the fresh start they deserve.

Now through May 31, we’re waiving adoption fees for dogs and cats who have been in the shelter’s care for more than 60 days.

We will highlight eligible dogs and cats on our Facebook and Instagram pages with information on how long the animal has been in the shelter, their strengths, personality traits, insight into the home they’d thrive in and more.

To see our full list of adoptable dogs, visit pinellas.gov/dogs. For cats, visit pinellas.gov/cats.

Keep our County dog parks dog-friendly

Dog parks can be a great chance to get your dog off the leash and get their zoomies out, and many Pinellas County parks have them! But for them to mean happy tails for everybody, we need to follow some important rules. Allow our excellent Pinellas County Parks staff to explain:

Park ranger in uniform in a county park surrounded by leaves and trees

Simply put, dogs in Pinellas County parks should be:

On six-foot or shorter leashes unless they are in a dog park.
Under voice control at all times when in a dog park.

Remember: Dogs are not allowed on Pinellas County park beaches except for the designated dog beach at Fort De Soto Park.

Each of our parks has its own posted rules about where dogs can and cannot be. Please check the signs or ask a park ranger when bringing dogs to the parks.

Be the Hero of the Shoreline: Lifeguards

Join Pinellas County Beach Patrol at stunning Fort De Soto and Sand Key Park beaches from April to September.

Why you'll love it:

Stay active and fit while soaking up the sun.
Develop leadership and emergency response skills.
Make a positive impact in your community.

Lifeguard coming out of the water on the beach with the text "On the job training"

Ready to dive in? Full and part-time positions are available. To learn more and apply, visit https://pinellas.gov/jobs-career-opportunities/

Heritage Village starts 50th anniversary celebration

Love was in the air as Heritage Village began its 50th anniversary celebrations with the "Preserved with Love" festival last month. During wedding vow renewals inside the historic Safety Harbor Church, Beth Ann and Frederick Lynn Travers stood in the same spot where they said “I do” for the first time back in 1998. The 21-acre living history museum was abuzz with blacksmithing, spinning and weaving demonstrations, as well as hands-on educational activities and a community market.

This month, Heritage Village is inviting the community to the "From Dedication to Designation" ceremony on Saturday, March 28, at 11 a.m. The event officially designates the 1896 Plant–Sumner House and 1907 House of Seven Gables as local historic landmarks.

Saved from rapid development in 1976, these foundational structures will receive formal recognition from the Board of County Commissioners. Guided tours will follow the ceremony, offering a firsthand look at the public stewardship and unique heritage that makes Pinellas home.

Join the celebration! Explore our packed calendar of anniversary events happening throughout the year at heritagevillagefl.org/50thanniversary.

Join the Pinellas County team!

We offer competitive pay, with salaries starting at $18/hour and above. Our benefits package, ranked among the top in the area, includes medical coverage starting at $13.09 per paycheck, participation in the Florida Retirement System, leave time starting at 15 days annual/sick leave in the first year, a wellness program, deferred compensation, tuition reimbursement, and more.

This month’s featured jobs include: