Frisco unveils the highly anticipated Grand Park on November 19 at 9 a.m.
The City of Frisco purchased the land back in 2005. At the time, the park was little more than a dilapidated battery plant. After almost two decades and heavy cleanup, Frisco residents will be able to enjoy Grand Park finally.
“It had become an urban legend,” said Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney in a Facebook post. “People almost stopped believing that it would ever happen.”
Mayor Cheney has been a proponent of the park since its inception.
Furthermore, he describes Grand Park as “one of the projects that inspired me to run for city council.”
“I believe this trail marks the beginning of developing a legacy park destined to become one of our city’s greatest attractions for residents, visitors, and future generations,” Cheney continues.
Grand Park hosts a winding foot-wide unpaved path lined with bois d’arc trees and Texas natural wildflowers that complement the native grass of North Texas. The path, named after a native grass called the Big Bluestem, stretches for 2.2 miles.
For the moment, Grand Park is largely undeveloped. However, city planners assure residents that this opening only represents phase one.
“We’re keeping it simple by providing access to a beautiful walking trail and natural, open space,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Shannon Coates.
In the future, Frisco plans to build a kid’s place, hiking trails through the wetlands, a performance stage complete with a festival green, and a boathouse. These amenities sprawl out among the vast 1,000-acre park at the heart of Frisco.
“20 years from now, when people think of Frisco with all the great things that are here, [Grand Park] will be number one on the list,” said Mayor Cheney.
Cheney expects the park to take decades before the plans come to fruition. For now, Frisco focuses on developing the western region of Grand Park. Community input is welcome as the park continues to develop.
The Grand opening on November 19 at 9 a.m. is $20 to attend and is open to the first 250 people who register. Attendees will receive a T-shirt and get a chance to view the urban legend come to life.
After the grand opening, the trail will be open to the general public at 11 a.m. and from sunrise to sunset.