New parking fees go into effect today at Fort De Soto, Fred Howard parks

New $5 parking fees start today at 2 Pinellas parks

Starting today, visitors will have to pay $5 a day to park at nationally known Fort De Soto Park in Tierra Verde and Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs. County officials imposed the fees to generate money for park maintenance. The county will use a pay plaza near Fort De Soto's entrance to collect the fee. Meters will be used at Fred Howard. Friends of Fort De Soto Park will offer free passes for volunteers who help maintain the park.

Swiftmud to review hunting land

The next step to consider opening more Southwest Florida Water Management District lands to hunting happens during a public meeting Thursday in Citrus County. At the meeting, Swiftmud's staff will present its recommendations for four of the district's acreages: Lake Panasoffkee (Non-Wildlife Management Area) in Sumter County; Halpata Tastanaki Preserve, mostly in Marion County; Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps, mostly in Citrus County; and the Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County. The meeting is 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lecanto Government Building, 3600 W Sovereign Path, Suite 166, Lecanto. The board is scheduled to consider the proposals during its meeting at 9 a.m. Jan. 31 at 7601 N U.S. 301, Tampa.

Corrections

• The holiday membership fee reduction at YouFit health clubs expired Dec. 31. A story Dec. 26 was incorrect on this point.

• The first baby born this year in Pinellas County was Timothy Brian Johnson, 5 pounds, 15 ounces, at 1:51 a.m. Sunday at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital in Tarpon Springs. He is the first child of Timothy and Brittany Rae Johnson of Oldsmar. A different baby was listed in a story Monday as Pinellas' first of 2012.