Frisco, September 13, 2025
News Summary
City officials in Frisco have announced plans to begin construction on Grand Park, a proposed 1,000-acre urban park. The park will offer various amenities, including a nature center, sports fields, and multi-use trails. Initial construction is set to start in 2025, with the aim of completing the full project by 2029. Funding for environmental cleanup has been secured, facilitating the transformation of a previously industrial site into recreational space for families and nature lovers alike.
Frisco — City officials have announced plans to break ground on Grand Park, a proposed 1,000-acre urban park that is expected to begin initial construction in 2025 and reach full project completion by 2029.
Key facts and timeline
The park site stretches from the Dallas North Tollway west to Lake Lewisville and FM 423. The current master plan focuses on 287 acres within the larger 1,011-acre site. Construction for the first district, Civic Park, is anticipated to start in the third quarter of 2025. Design and construction plans will be finalized by Design Workshop, a Colorado-based landscape architecture firm, in the first quarter of 2026. Initial phases could be completed as early as the second quarter of 2027, with the full park projected to be finished by 2029.
What will be built
Grand Park will be organized into five primary sections: Civic Park, Adventure Play, Sports Park, Botanic Gardens, and a general district with multi-use nature trails. Phase one, on the park’s north side near Cotton Gin Road, will include Civic Park with a 5-acre pond, an amphitheater, and a sculpture garden. Phase two, on the southern end, will include Frisco’s first nature center. City planning indicates construction will begin simultaneously on both ends of the site, with middle sections developed later.
Funding and environmental cleanup
A $24 million state allocation for cleanup of the former Exide Battery Recycling Center site is identified as critical to the project. The Exide facility operated as a lead smelter from 1964 until November 2012 and has been a focus of environmental remediation efforts. The state funding was secured to address contamination and prepare the site for public use.
Planning, community input and contracts
Frisco’s City Council approved a $394,000 contract in 2023 with the design firm IDEO to help shape a community-driven vision for the park. The planning process included workshops, public input sessions, and surveys that contributed to establishing design principles and project goals. The city has described the park as intended to serve nature lovers, athletes, families, and eventgoers, and officials note the development is meant to evolve over many years, potentially across several decades.
Project phasing and expectations
City parks leadership expects the project to proceed with parallel activities on the north and south ends while central areas are developed later. The initial master plan prioritizes a subset of acreage to ensure early public access and visible progress. Key dates include commencement of Civic Park construction in the third quarter of 2025, final design completion in Q1 2026, and staged openings of early phases by Q2 2027, with full completion targeted for 2029.
Context and long-term vision
Officials have characterized Grand Park as a long-term municipal investment and a strategic reuse of a large urban landscape. The cleanup of the former industrial site is essential to converting the area to recreational and ecological uses. The project is framed as a multi-decade initiative that will likely be refined and expanded over the next 50 years to meet changing community needs and environmental priorities.
Project components at a glance
- Size: Approximately 1,000 acres (master plan currently focused on 287 acres of the 1,011-acre site).
- Sections: Civic Park, Adventure Play, Sports Park, Botanic Gardens, Multi-use nature trails.
- Initial construction: Civic Park expected Q3 2025.
- Design completion: Design Workshop to finalize plans in Q1 2026.
- Early phase completion: Possible by Q2 2027.
- Final completion: Projected by 2029.
- Environmental remediation: $24 million allocated for cleanup of the Exide site.
- Community planning: $394,000 contract with IDEO in 2023 and public engagement activities.
Next steps for residents
Residents can expect additional public meetings and design updates as Design Workshop completes construction documents in 2026 and as construction milestones are reached beginning in 2025. The phased approach aims to deliver usable park areas sooner while larger site remediation and construction continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Grand Park and where will it be located?
Grand Park is a proposed 1,000-acre urban park in Frisco that extends from the Dallas North Tollway west to Lake Lewisville and FM 423.
When will construction start and finish?
Civic Park construction is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2025. Initial phases may be completed by the second quarter of 2027, with full park completion projected by 2029.
Who is designing the park?
Design Workshop, a Colorado-based landscape architecture firm, is scheduled to finalize design and construction plans in the first quarter of 2026. IDEO was contracted in 2023 to support community-driven visioning.
How will the project address environmental concerns?
A $24 million state allocation has been secured for cleanup of the former Exide Battery Recycling Center site, which operated as a lead smelter from 1964 to November 2012. Remediation is essential before full public development.
What features will the park include?
Planned features include a 5-acre pond, amphitheater, sculpture garden, adventure play areas, sports fields, botanic gardens, a nature center, and multi-use nature trails across five distinct park sections.
How will the park be developed over time?
The project will be developed in phases, starting with ends of the site and moving toward the center. The city expects the park to evolve over decades as needs and funding permit.
| Feature | Location | Planned Start | Expected Completion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic Park (includes 5-acre pond, amphitheater, sculpture garden) | North side near Cotton Gin Road | Q3 2025 | Phase completion by Q2 2027 (early phases) | First district to begin construction; part of master plan 287 acres |
| Nature Center | South end of site | Concurrent with north-end work (around 2025) | Phase completion by Q2 2027 (early phases) | Frisco’s first nature center planned for southern district |
| Design and construction plans | Citywide / project-wide | Design completion Q1 2026 | Construction documents finalized in 2026 | Design Workshop responsible for final plans |
| Environmental cleanup (Exide site) | Within project footprint | Funding secured prior to major construction | Remediation ongoing; critical to safe public use | $24 million state allocation for site cleanup |
| Full park completion | Entire 1,011-acre site | Phased through 2025–2029 | Projected by 2029 | Park expected to evolve over decades |
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Additional Resources
- WFAA: Design Approved for Grand Park in Frisco
- Wikipedia: Urban Park
- Star Local Media: Frisco Unveils Grand Park Updates
- Google Search: Grand Park Frisco
- Local Profile: Cleanup Exide and Grand Park
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Park
- Community Impact: New Parks and Trail Additions for Frisco
- Google News: Frisco Grand Park
- NBC DFW: Frisco City Council and Grand Park Updates
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