Celebrate Weedon Island Feb. 11th!

For the Love of Weedon is a celebration of Weedon Island, from its rich prehistoric and historic heritage to its present day use as a coastal preserve for education and outdoor activities.

This special event, to be held on Saturday, Feb. 11, is an opportunity to share and to capture the many stories about Weedon Island, talk about the present and look forward to the future. A panel discussion is planned with “open mike” audience participation about this very significant piece of land on Old Tampa Bay.

The known recent history of Weedon Island spans nearly 150 years with many significant changes from homesteads and citrus groves to airport runways and movie studios. The prehistory dates back to A.D. 400 and beyond with numerous Indian mounds and the first identified site of the “Weeden Island culture” with its beautiful pottery.

Used as a getaway by generations of residents, Weedon Island has been a playground and a lover’s lane, a fishing delight and shellfishing paradise, a dump and a treasure site. No doubt many residents can add their own chapters to the many tales to tell.

Everyone is invited to join this special occasion and share stories and memories in this collaborative project to record the history and experiences of Weedon Island Preserve and talk about visions of the future.

Registration with refreshments and social will be from 1:30 to 2 p.m. with program to follow. For more information, call (727) 453-6500 or go to the Weedon Island Preserve website to make a reservation. There is no charge for this program.

Weedon Island Preserve protects more than 3,700 acres of natural ecosystems and is located at 1800 Weedon Drive N.E. in St. Petersburg. The preserve is operated under the Parks and Conservation Resources Department and is open to the public seven days a week, including holidays, from 7 a.m. to 15 minutes before sunset. Its many outdoor activities include walking trails, a fishing pier and a canoe/kayak launch.

The Cultural and Natural History Center in the preserve welcomes visitors Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center is closed Sunday through Wednesday and all Pinellas County holidays. The center features the permanent exhibit, Connecting People and Place, which is an art-inspired, hands-on educational approach to the area’s history, ecology and people.

To learn more about Weedon Island Preserve and its upcoming programs and events, call (727) 453-6500.