An injured American bald eagle was rescued in Polk County and is recovering under the care of animal professionals, with its prognosis looking positive.

A sea turtle was killed by a vehicle on Anna Maria Island after becoming disoriented by streetlights, leaving behind a nest of eggs. Local ordinances address this issue, and efforts are being made to prevent future incidents.

ZooTampa's staff are employing creative methods, such as frozen treats and baths, to ensure animals stay cool during the summer heat, according to various news reports.

Volunteers in St. Petersburg work on the Maximo Park Living Shoreline Project, installing oyster reef balls to combat coastal erosion and support marine life.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay launched the 'Phoenix Rising' roller coaster featuring onboard audio for an immersive experience, boasting as North America's tallest and longest family inverted coaster.

Tampa seeks to make emergency once-a-week watering restrictions permanent due to drought, despite high city water usage. Mayor Castor advocates conservation as the city council vote approaches.

Article describes the role of Hillsborough County Park rangers in maintaining parks and educating visitors, highlighting Ranger Glen Murley’s work and celebrating World Ranger Day.

Hillsborough County celebrates Water Quality Month, ensuring safe, reliable tap water, with a focus on thorough testing and proactive water resource management.

Three parks in Pinellas County—Fort De Soto Park, Fred Howard Park, and Sand Key Park—are reopening on August 6th for normal hours, as announced by local officials.

The article highlights the importance of family farms in Hillsborough County, noting their role in the community, economy, and environmental stewardship, especially ahead of Farmers Market Week.

The article discusses the long-standing aquatic species in Hillsborough County, such as the ancient comb jelly and horseshoe crabs, as well as the proficient dragonflies that control pests.

Tampa's Parks and Recreation offers 300 additional slots in its affordable After School Program, providing activities and homework assistance for kids aged 5-12, requiring a $15 annual Rec Card.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay mourns the death of Jim, a 37-year-old western lowland gorilla, after his health rapidly declined despite intensive care. This is the second gorilla loss for the park recently.

Tampa shuts down parks and halts programs ahead of Tropical Storm Milton, as the city prioritizes debris cleanup from Hurricane Helene and undertakes pre-emptive safety measures.

The dog park at Simmers-Young Park in Winter Haven is closed due to hurricane debris; other park areas, like soccer fields and playgrounds, remain open.

Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota County is set to partially reopen after hurricane-induced closures, with local business owners and residents expressing relief.

Pinellas County Parks & Conservation Resources reopens select parks post-Hurricane cleanups, while urging visitors to mind closed trails and ongoing debris removal.

Tampa's new MacDill 48 Park opens, offering stormwater management and a recreational space with a 1-mile trail, a 10-acre pond, and local wildlife. Mayor Castor highlights its environmental and community benefits.

Hillsborough County debuts a new water playground at Progress Village's Emanuel P. Johnson Recreation Center, adding 14 water features and improved facilities.

Sand Key Park reopens Dec. 21 after hurricane restoration, offering amenities like trails, a dog area, and picnic spots, despite a parking fee increase to $6 on Jan. 1. Pinellas County also progresses with other park re-openings post-hurricanes.

Loyce E. Harpe Park reopens on weekends after Hurricane Milton with limited facilities, including a dog park, skate park, bike trails, and fishing areas, while still serving as a storm debris management site on weekdays.

Loyce E. Harpe Park in Mulberry reopens on weekends after Hurricane Milton's damage with limited access to amenities like dog and skate parks, trails, and fishing areas, while weekdays remain closed for safety during ongoing cleanup operations.

Polk County Parks and Recreation Department sets new camping rules for 2025, including a 14-day stay limit, a 28-day gap before return, a 100-day annual cap, adult-only reservations, and a ban on certain vehicles.

Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park hosts an outdoor movie night on Feb. 1, starting at 5:30 p.m., promising a magical, family-friendly film experience. Details at 941-681-3760 or the event page.

St. Petersburg's Annual Raptor Fest returns to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve on February 1st with live demonstrations, interactive activities, and options to financially support raptors.

Branchton Park's $10M renovation in Hillsborough County offers a playground, splash pad, sports courts, and a dog park, aiming to become a local recreation hub.

HSN is moving its operations from St. Petersburg to join QVC in Pennsylvania, ending a 47-year history with Florida, aiming to enhance efficiency and technological capabilities.

Hillsborough County, FL, unveils the renovated Branchton Park featuring playgrounds, courts, a splash pad, and a sheriff's substation for the community.

Branchton Park in Thonotosassa, FL, has reopened after a $10 million renovation, offering new amenities like a pickleball court, playground, splash pad, and dog park.

Fort Desoto North Beach is reopening after hurricane damage repairs, marking the full reopening of the park. Cleanup involved removing debris buried under sand, with extensive impacts on park structures and financial losses due to closure.

Clearwater city and the PSTA are offering a free Park & Ride service to Clearwater Beach from March 2 to May 3, 2025, to alleviate parking issues during the busy season.

Lemon Bay Sunrise Rotary Park in Englewood reopens on May 16, with some areas still under repair, including restrooms, the canoe/kayak launch, and part of the pier.

Charlotte County Transit offers a free Saturday-only park and ride service to Englewood Beach starting May 31.

Tampa's Parks and Recreation turn summer jobs into careers for local teens, with 380 youths working seasonally and 50 interns gaining job experience. Success stories abound as participants grow into full-time roles.

A young male Florida panther was killed on I-75 in Pasco County, the first known such incident in the area, highlighting the species' vulnerability and conservation challenges.

Tringali Park Recreation Center hosts a celebration for National Pickleball Day on August 8, offering activities for all skill levels, prizes, and refreshments, with a $5 registration fee.

The City of Dunedin, Florida, celebrates "Be Nice to a Bug Day" by promoting the importance of bees to the ecosystem and agriculture via a Facebook post and suggests ways to protect these crucial pollinators.

Stirling Park in Dunedin offers 27 acres of trails for hiking and cycling, near the Pinellas Trail, providing a natural urban retreat as highlighted by the city's Facebook post.

Charlotte County is upgrading playgrounds at several parks with construction starting July 21, aiming to complete by August 4. Access remains but caution near work zones is advised.

Mosaic Peace River Park's west entrance is temporarily closed from July 23-26 for maintenance, but the park remains accessible through the east entrance.

Pinellas County Government celebrates park rangers during Park & Recreation Month for their role in maintaining over 20,000 acres of natural areas and educating the public.

Polk County has closed Marsh Rabbit Run trail at Circle B Bar Reserve due to nesting alligators' aggressive behavior, with Alligator Alley also affected earlier.

Hillsborough County prohibits nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers from June 1 to Sept 30 to protect waterways from algae blooms caused by nutrient runoff during Florida's rainy summer season.

Eureka Springs Conservation Park in Hillsborough County, Florida, features a greenhouse with exotic plants and offers a boardwalk, historic oaks, and a scenic pergola.

Englewood's Tringali Park Recreation Center is hosting a fall festival on Sept. 27 with activities for all ages.

A new splash pad opens at Kings Forest Park in Tampa, offering a 1,250 square-foot water play area with shade structures, a gazebo, and park upgrades including renovated restrooms.

Hillsborough County's UF/IFAS Extension earns its first ArbNet accreditation for their 1.5 acre educational arboretum focusing on environmental stewardship.

Starting November 10, 2025, Centennial Park's baseball field 5 in Port Charlotte will undergo dugout and bleacher shade repairs, aiming for completion by November 14.

Charlotte County's Traveling Library will visit South County Regional Park on select Wednesdays from November 19, 2025, to April 8, 2026, for book check-outs and library card sign-ups.

Centennial Park Pool is closed for a swim meet and will reopen at 3 p.m., Nov. 22. Contact Aquatic Coordinator Katelynn Crockett for more information.

St. Petersburg residents can review and influence the city's Seawall Master Plan to combat flooding and erosion.

The South County Regional Park Pool in Punta Gorda will be closed on December 13 for a regional swim meet, resuming regular activities on December 14, 2025. Event spectating details are not provided.

The Bissett Park Skate Park in Charlotte County will be closed for safety fence installation on Dec. 22, with completion expected the next day. Other park areas remain open.

The Port Charlotte Beach Park has reopened partially despite ongoing construction, with locals encouraged to use the beach while observing boundaries.

Heritage Village Museum & Park in Pinellas County launches "The Power of Place Oral History Initiative" to digitally archive local personal histories for future generations. Participation is free and open to all.

Manatee County seeks volunteers for its Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee to help oversee local environmental policy, land purchases, and conservation efforts.

Charlotte County is replacing shades at local parks, causing temporary closures on Feb. 12-13 at selected areas, with alternative parks available for use.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium and partner rehab centers are treating sea turtles after a rare Florida cold snap. Officials urge reporting to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline.

A hard freeze left the shoreline at Circle B strewn with thousands of dead tilapia; park officials say scavengers and decomposition will restore the marsh.

Mote Marine Laboratory is treating three manatees and 25 cold-stunned sea turtles after a rare Florida freeze that has stretched rehab centers across the state.

A bald eagle tangled in vines on the Weeki Wachee River was rehabilitated at the Raptor Center of Tampa Bay and released after 49 days.

Construction is underway at Premier Sports Campus North; Manatee County says the 44,000‑sq‑ft Athletics & Aquatics Center and 24 pickleball courts will open late this year.

UF/IFAS researchers developed a duplex digital PCR eDNA test that finds Asian swamp eels and bullseye snakeheads from a few drops of water, offering faster detection in murky canals.

A female Florida panther, UCFP500, was found dead on State Road 82 in Collier County; biologists suspect a vehicle strike and urge drivers to slow down in known panther corridors.

A $34.7M, 33,055‑sq‑ft Fair Oaks Recreation Complex has opened in East Tampa, adding courts, trails and senior programming across a 10.25‑acre campus.

Lee County deputies, FWC crews and drone pilots rescued an injured mother manatee and her calf from the Orange River; both were sent to ZooTampa for care.

ZooTampa closed a $33 million campaign to finish Florida Waters and the Straz Family Manatee Rescue, adding new habitats and expanded rescue capacity this spring.

A Trust for Public Land plan would stitch local paths into a 420‑mile greenway from Tampa Bay to Naples, connecting seven counties and dozens of communities. Early land deals and short connectors are already shaping the route.

F23, the female at the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam nest, hasn’t been seen since last Friday. Mate M15 is caring for eaglet E26 while wildlife groups monitor the situation.

A 9-foot-9-inch alligator wandered near a Seffner school bus pickup Thursday; a licensed trapper removed it and no one was hurt.

A coalition of 32 groups is urging Florida lawmakers to tap trust‑fund receipts and boost appropriations after a state report found a roughly $759M parks repair backlog.

Pinellas County's $125.7M beach renourishment began, but more than 100 beachfront owners refused temporary easements — leaving gaps in protection and complicating federal funding.

Manatee County is partnering with a state program to place conservation easements on two ranches, preserving 1,483 acres of working land from development.

Manatee County deputies freed an alligator tangled in a soccer net at Greyhawk Landing in Bradenton; photos from the sheriff's office show the rescue.

A three-year-old male panther (UCFP501) was found dead March 25 on US-27 in Glades County after an apparent vehicle strike, wildlife officials confirmed.

Passengers on a Madeira Beach charter watched a roughly 10‑foot great white cruise near Shell Key for about 15 minutes before heading south. The company says it will share footage with researchers.

A licensed trapper removed an alligator outside the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office in Tampa on Tuesday; no injuries were reported.

A University Park door‑cam captured a large alligator “knocking” at a home’s front door. Wildlife officials say the sighting is a reminder that gators live near many Florida neighborhoods.

Pinellas County broke ground April 17 on a new two‑story Palm Harbor Recreation Center that will expand programming and double as a hardened storm shelter.

A dead hammerhead at Venice Fishing Pier drew a large crowd Sunday while wildlife officials prepare to examine the specimen. Scientists say caught-and-released stress can be deadly.

A Florida delegation hand‑delivered a letter to Congress warning H.R. 1897 would roll back decades of recovery for manatees, panthers and sea turtles.

Neighbors filmed deputies and a licensed trapper removing a large alligator from a Wesley Chapel driveway. Officials say the animal was secured and removed by crews.

Volunteers and local leaders are mapping a plan to rebuild Egmont Key after Hurricane Helene, hauling out tons of debris and exploring Army Corps sand placement to restore beaches.

A rooftop collapse at a former Winn‑Dixie in Madeira Beach left a gaping hole — but banded oystercatcher parents and their newly hatched chicks survived and will be monitored during repairs.

FHP troopers removed an alligator from the Suncoast Parkway near SR‑52. No injuries were reported.

Two young Florida panthers were found dead on Hendry County roads on Saturday; biologists suspect vehicle strikes and urge caution in panther corridors.

FWC says cownose ray numbers have dropped in some estuaries and is asking boaters, anglers and divers to report sightings at two online workshops.

State officials say FSMI has completed airborne LiDAR and gathered most sonar data, revealing new reefs, paleorivers and offshore sand resources. Processed maps are due fall 2026.

A woman was bitten by an alligator while swimming at Wallace Brooks Park on Saturday; FWC trappers are on scene and removal efforts are underway.

Conservation crews are juggling ATV patrols and fragile chicks as Florida's nesting season hits full swing.

Neighbors in Dundee reported Argentine tegu lizards roaming yards; officials warn of risks to pets and native wildlife. FWC asks residents to report sightings.

Conservation groups say islands in Alligator Lake are hosting state‑threatened nesting birds, prompting Safety Harbor to rethink its July 4 fireworks plan.

A proposed St. Pete Beach ordinance would require permits for photo shoots, yoga classes and other organized beach uses and ban foam coolers, bikes and fireworks. Local vendors warn it could cost business.

Dunedin commissioners have asked staff to draft an ordinance banning shore launches of jet skis from the Causeway as repairs and seagrass recovery reshape the area. Public hearings could come in July.