Dallas North Tollway & Cotton Gin Rd, Frisco, TX 75034

The first phase will feature a wide range of amenities including a sculpture garden, amphitheater, and a 5-acre pond. The Frisco City Council on Oct. 1 approved a $4.8 million design contract for a huge park planned at the southeast corner of Cotton Gin Road and Legacy Drive. The contract, which passed unanimously, represents the next step in the development of Grand Park, a planned 1,000-acre greenbelt that will span from the Dallas North Tollway west to Lake Lewisville and FM 423.

“Back 20 years ago we had a mayor, council, and city leadership team make a bold step to acquire the property.... Had that council not bought it then, this project never would have been happening,” Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney said.

Council members also unanimously approved the park’s master plan, which will organize the new park in five sections: Civic Park, Adventure Play, Sports Park, Botanic Gardens, and a general section which features multi-use nature trails. Phase one is on the north side of the property near Cotton Gin Road. Once complete, Civic Park will feature a wide range of amenities such as a 5-acre pond, amphitheater and sculpture garden.

“Every mayor and council for the next 20 to 25 years will probably add on a phase to this project as it will be a generational project,” Cheney said. “It will probably be complete over a 50-year period.” Following approval, city officials are working with Design Workshop, a Colorado-based landscape architecture firm, to finalize design and construction plans, which could take a year to complete. Since it will take another couple of months to find a suitable contractor for the project, council members anticipate a groundbreaking by the end of 2025.

Grand Park has been part of Frisco’s vision for the last two decades and supports the city’s goals to build community and ignite underused spaces. Over the years, the plan has evolved from a 300-acre multi-use district to 1,000 acres of park features. City council members approved the vision and framework for the park in January and first reviewed the master plan in June.

“[Grand Park] is no longer an urban legend,” Council Member Laura Rummel said. “It’s real.”