Fisco opens 122-acre Northwest Community Park with prairie restoration focus

The City of Frisco has opened Northwest Community Park, a 122-acre facility located at 13770 Teel Pkwy. The project marks the first time the city has built a community park in a single phase. The park is also an active restoration project designed to preserve endangered Blackland Prairie.

Mayor Mark Hill stated that the park is impressive in size and design, focusing on preservation. He noted that it is thoughtfully designed for avid bikers, hikers, and families, welcoming all ages and experience levels.

The park features more than 10 miles of trails made of dirt, gravel, and pavement. Cycling amenities include a pump track, a Skills Course, and a Prairie Lookout with two gravity ramps for experienced riders. A small track is available for young bikers.

Other features include a 20-acre lawn, three playgrounds, and a splash pad. One playground features a 20-foot-tall, custom-made bison play structure. The park also includes a five-acre dog park, two mini zip lines, and an outdoor classroom for groups to learn about the Blackland Prairie.

The construction cost $40 million, covered by bonds. The Frisco Community Development Corporation contributed approximately $3 million toward project costs. Chad Brubaker, Chairperson of the FCDC, said the investment helps turn sales tax dollars into a lasting investment in families and quality of life.

Lisa Kirby, Chairperson of Play Frisco, noted the park has the potential to become a regional destination for North Texas. Ricardo Sanchez, Capital Improvement Projects Manager for Play Frisco, began envisioning the park in 2019, with design starting in 2020. Sanchez worked with the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association to design cycling features and with ecologists to preserve blackland soils and grasslands.

The project added more than 1,300 elm and oak trees. Sanchez asked visitors to pardon temporary irrigation as staff works to care for remnants of blackland soils.