“We made it, finally!,” exclaimed Mayor Jeff Cheney. “Today is more than a groundbreaking,” Mayor Cheney added. “Today is a true milestone in the future of Frisco.”
Monday afternoon, city leaders – past and present – along with residents and city staff celebrated the ceremonial groundbreaking for Grand Park, which will ultimately span 1,000 acres. Grand Park will wind its way throughout the community, from the Dallas North Tollway (DNT) west to Lake Lewisville.
Phase I of Grand Park is called the Civic Room and covers 58 acres, located south of Cotton Gin Road between DNT and Legacy Drive. The Civic Room will include an amphitheater, shade structures and restrooms, an orchard and Arrowhead Pond, which will cover about three acres.
“You’re going to see the first water in Frisco – that’s part of the city’s park system — that’s activated for recreation,” said Shannon Coates, Director, Play Frisco. Coates says residents and visitors alike can look forward to kayaking and paddle boarding, not to mention leisurely walks around the water. Coates says Grand Park will be a gathering place where people can “play, explore, discover and connect.”
Referring to the park as Frisco’s “twenty year overnight success story”, Mayor Cheney shared the story about how the vision of Grand Park and passage of 2006 park bonds inspired him to run for City Council in 2007, adding he wanted to work on a project his children and future grandchildren could enjoy.
Construction cost for Grand Park Phase I is about $43 million and includes bond monies and contributions from the Frisco Community Development Corporation (FCDC).
Mayor Cheney also applauded members of the FCDC, past and present, who shared city leaders’ vision. The FCDC’s role is to reinvest sales tax dollars generated by visitors, businesses, and residents back into projects which strengthen the community and improve everyday life.
“As a quality-of-life project, Grand Park will be unprecedented throughout our state and really throughout the nation,” said Chad Brubaker, President, FCDC.
Parks and Recreation Board members have also waited for years, anticipating this legacy project.
“This is more than a destination,” said Lisa Kirby, Chair, Parks & Recreation Board. “It’s a defining step in building a park system that is connected, balanced and future ready.”
In 2022, the City of Frisco celebrated the opening of ‘Big Bluestem Trail’, which is an unpaved 2.2- mile trail that winds its way through the natural park land, south to Stonebrook Parkway.
During construction of Grand Park Phase I, the ‘Big Bluestem Trail’ will be closed for construction.
City staff anticipates Grand Park Phase I will open in October 2027.
“Grand Park will be a visual representation of who we are as a city, an aspirational city,” said Mayor Cheney.
