The Wave

Fort De Soto to fully reopen Monday, Feb. 17 

Pinellas County Parks & Conservation Resources staff, along with partners and volunteers, have worked tirelessly to restore Fort De Soto Park and other areas of the park system following the damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. North Beach at Fort De Soto Park is set to reopen on Monday, Feb. 17. With this final restoration, the entire park will once again be fully accessible to the public.

In addition to these recovery efforts, the department continues to enhance facilities across the county. Recently completed projects include a trail extension at Lake Seminole Park and the construction of a new playground at Ridgecrest Park, offering improved amenities and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

Learn more about our County parks and preserves, as well as recreational services and educational programs.

Storm debris collection completed in Unincorporated County

It was a massive undertaking, but Pinellas County and its contractor have completed storm debris collections in the Unincorporated County. We finished in time to meet the state and federal guidelines for reimbursement of eligible expenses.

All told, the County and its contractor collected 646,692 cubic yards of debris. That amounted to 18,429 loads and 153,213 miles driven. (To put that into perspective, the earth is 24,901 miles around.)

The debris management sites the County used to temporarily hold debris are currently being remediated.

Practicing Tornado Safety

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Great Tornado Drill last week! This statewide drill is designed to make sure you know what to do BEFORE a tornado watch or warning is issued. Remember: When a tornado strikes, you may only have minutes to prepare. Know where your safe room will be — ideally an interior room away from windows. Watch the video below to learn more about tornado safety and click here to sign up for emergency alerts.

Animal Services providing pets a safe space at home

Staff at Pinellas County Animal Services are repurposing kennels to help pets in need of a safe space. During their recent construction, PCAS used temporary dog kennels to keep up with our pet population. With construction nearly complete, our animal control officers and community outreach team adapted them to create outdoor enclosures for pets left without a fenced in yard after the recent storms.

Thanks to our staff for their work to keep residents and pets safe! Learn more about how Animal Services supports the pets of Pinellas County.

BCC hosts Tri-County Meeting with Hillsborough and Pasco county leaders

Our County Commission and County Administrator joined their counterparts from Hillsborough and Pasco counties recently for a Regional Roundtable at Ruth Eckerd Hall. The leaders from the three counties collaborated and exchanged ideas on key topics of regional impact, including water, transportation and behavioral health.

Youth Advisory Council inspires next generation of community leaders

This month, the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) introduced dozens of high school students to local government with a tour of the Regional 9-1-1 Center in Largo, followed by the creation of a career council focused on public sector job opportunities.  

Since 2001, YAC has provided students with the tools and knowledge to actively shape their community. The organization offers hands-on learning about government operations and fosters leadership development through interactive tours, projects, and meetings. Learn about YAC’s history, impact and enrollment opportunities.