If you live in Venetian Isles or anywhere along Riviera Bay, you've probably asked yourself this as the mornings cool off: is Weedon Island back yet? Mostly, yes, at least for walking. The fishing pier is open, two rebuilt boardwalks are finished, and the County expects the last boardwalk repair to wrap up before the year ends. Paddling is still unsettled. One of the preserve's two paddling trails is closed, and the County's process for choosing a rental and concession vendor is on hold.
So for the rest of 2026, Weedon Island is easiest to enjoy on foot. Check before you launch a kayak.
Where the repairs have already landed
The clearest sign of progress is the fishing pier. WFLA reported that it reopened on Friday, May 23, 2025, after a long stretch of storm recovery work across Pinellas County parks. Since then, Pinellas County's Weedon Island Boardwalk and Pier Rehabilitation project page has listed both phases as complete. The Fishing Pier Boardwalk was scheduled for March to April 2025, and the Education Center Boardwalk for April to May 2025.
One piece is still under construction. The County's Know Before You Go page, last updated October 15, 2026, says part of the Bay Boardwalk is closed for repairs, with completion expected in late 2026.
Here's how the preserve looks as November approaches, based on the most recent County information for each feature:
Feature | Current status | Most recent County source |
|---|---|---|
Fishing pier | Open since May 2025; rehabilitation marked complete | Project page, updated Sept. 2, 2025 |
Education Center Boardwalk | Rehabilitation marked complete | Project page, updated Sept. 2, 2025 |
Bay Boardwalk | Part closed for repairs; completion expected late 2026 | Know Before You Go, Oct. 15, 2026 |
North paddling trail | Closed | Preserve page, June 2026 |
Cultural and Natural History Center | Open Thursday through Sunday | Park hours page, October 2026 |
The Bay Boardwalk closure matters most to anyone planning a specific walk. The County notice says "a portion" is closed but doesn't name the segment. The preserve's own boardwalks and trails page places the 45-foot observation tower on the west boardwalk loop. If the tower is the reason you're going, check the County notice that morning so you don't walk out to a barricade.
Altogether, the County describes more than 4.7 miles of boardwalks and trails at the preserve. Most of that network is open again. The rest has a target date.
Paddling is the part still unsettled
The County's preserve page describes two self-guided paddling trails through the preserve's islands and waterways. It also says plainly that the north trail "is closed at this time," without giving a reason or a reopening date. The preserve's paddling launch page describes the South Trail as starting from the launch. That page carries no date, though, so treat it as a description of the route rather than a promise that it's open today.
The boat rentals are less certain still. In May 2026, the County's Parks and Conservation Resources department issued a request for proposals titled Rental & Concession Vendor for Weedon Island, project 26-0482-RFP. It was released Tuesday, May 12, with proposals due Thursday, June 11, 2026. The County's procurement portal now marks the project "On Hold," noting that the recommendation is "on hold for budgetary considerations and pending departmental discussions."
For now, ECOmersion still lists Weedon Island Kayak Rentals on its website, starting at $25 for one to four hours, along with a guided kayak tour of the preserve. The County's own choice of a concession vendor for the preserve is still on hold. And with the north trail closed, paddlers have about half the marked routes they had before.
Before you plan a morning on the water this season, it's worth a few minutes of checking:
- Book or call ahead for a rental instead of showing up at the launch and hoping.
- Check the County's Know Before You Go page the same day, since it's the County's most frequently updated closure notice.
- Plan your route around the south trail, because the north trail is listed as closed.
- Keep a walking backup in mind. If the water plan falls through, the pier and the rebuilt boardwalks are open.
Weekends at the Center
With the paddling side in flux, the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center has the most predictable schedule. For more weekend ideas, see our guide to things to do in St. Petersburg.
County hours list it as open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's closed Monday through Wednesday and on County holidays. The County's preserve page notes that the Center has exhibits, a gift shop with cultural and natural history items, and a resource center for environmental and cultural topics.
The fall programs are built around the Center too, and the next few weeks have a short, specific lineup:
- Friends of Weedon Island Annual Meeting, Thursday, Oct. 29, 6 to 9 p.m. This one is off-site at WinDerby, not at the preserve.
- The Night Shift: Bats in Florida, Friday, Oct. 30, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Center. It's a hands-on program presented with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The County lists it as free, with registration through Pinellas County, and the Friends of Weedon Island event page links to it.
- Tarpon Talks: Weedon Island Preserve, Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m. Friends president and archaeologist Dr. William Fehring presents a film and talk at the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum. Tarpon Arts lists admission at $10 general and $7 for Tarpon Arts members.
- Family Fun: Owl Pellet Dissection, Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Center. It's free, for ages 10 and up, with registration through the County's program listing.
Bats and owls are both night animals, and both programs bring them indoors for a daytime audience. Of the four events, only those two are at the preserve. The annual meeting and the Tarpon Springs talk are off-site, and neither involves going out on the trails.
The pier is open for fishing
For anyone who fishes, the reopened pier is the best part of the recovery. The County notes that the pier and the preserve's outlying oyster bars are good spots for sea trout, snook, and sheepshead. State saltwater fishing regulations apply. Shellfishing is prohibited in Tampa Bay for health reasons, and commercial fishing isn't allowed. The pier was the first piece of the preserve to come back. As of this fall, it's open, and its rebuilt boardwalk is marked complete.
What could change by New Year's
Three things are still pending, and all three are worth watching through the end of the year.
The first is the Bay Boardwalk. The County's late-2026 completion estimate means that by the holidays, the walking network could be fully restored. Its October notice is the place to watch for the update.
The second is the concession contract. The procurement project is on hold rather than canceled. Once the County picks it back up, the outcome will shape how rental and concession services work at the preserve.
The third is the north paddling trail, the one piece with no published timeline. The County preserve page lists it as closed and gives no reopening date.
One nearby change does have a date. Starting December 1, 2026, Pinellas County boat ramp parking goes to $12 a day plus tax, and beach parking goes to $3.50 an hour, capped at $12 a day. If you sometimes launch from a County boat ramp, that's a cost to plan around while Weedon's own water access stays limited.
If the preserve, the bay, and quiet mornings on the water are part of why northeast St. Petersburg feels like home, Plotkin Homes knows the streets between Riviera Bay and Weedon Island well. We're glad to talk through what's changing in this part of the city whenever the timing is right for you.
