City Council Report
August 2025
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
PARK OPERATIONS
Staff worked on park maintenance projects including fence repairs, landscape bed maintenance, and turf renovation. Crews repaired fences at facilities including Bobwhite Park by removing damaged wood posts and panels, installing fresh posts, and staining. Staff also refreshed landscape beds at neighborhood parks such as Preston Ridge Park with mulch and fresh plants (pictured, right).
PICKLEBALL COURT LIGHTS
The lights are back on at the pickleball courts at The Grove at Frisco Commons! After severe weather damaged the light post this spring, staff took time to research the best longterm solution and it has paid off. The lights are shining once again, making way for early morning serves and exciting evening volleys as the days get shorter this fall.
NATURAL RESOURCES OPERATIONS
NRD Operations crews trimmed trees in the city’s medians for visibility and mower access (pictured, far left). Mud and damaged trees were cleared and removed from parks and trails, especially around bridges and areas prone to erosion after the heavy rain in July (pictured, left).
ENCOURAGING PLAY
EXPLORING ART & HISTORY
THROUGH PLAY
The Frisco Heritage Center celebrated Park and Recreation Month with a “History of Play” themed Second Saturday program. Over 200 visitors played a plethora of games and hands-on activities including water tables, cornhole, Hungry Hungry Hippos, giant UNO, Connect 4, and other board games (pictured, above right). Local blacksmiths demonstrated their skills and educated visitors.
Attendees also enjoyed painting on the temporary mural wall, built by Public Art Maintenance Technician Joaquin Robles (pictured, below right). It features a 4 ft x 8 ft plywood panel and can be taken apart and reassembled for relocation to other sites.
The next Second Saturday on August 9 will celebrate the museum’s new “BLOOM” exhibit and showcase Frisco’s natural areas.
SENSORY-FRIENDLY DAY
The first-ever Sensory-Friendly Water Park Day on July 11 was a splash-tastic time (pictured, left)! Over 125 people of all ages and abilities enjoyed a calm, welcoming space to play and cool off before the water park opened for its normal operating hours. The event received significant positive feedback from the community — so much that another sensory-friendly water park day has been planned for August 8!
BUILDING AWARENESS
FIREWORKS, FUN RUNS, AND FIRE TRUCKS IN JULY
In July, Frisco residents celebrated their local parks and recreation opportunities with special events and activities. The month kicked off with Frisco Freedom Fest, where Paws & Stripes raised $1,100 for Collin County Animal Services. Over 1,100 runners wore their patriotic outfits as they ran the sold-out Party in the USA 5K, generating $5,950 for the Play Fund.
Despite a rainy start, July 4th brought sunshine just in time for the celebration to continue. Thousands of festival visitors enjoyed great food, live music, fireworks, and a retro-themed roller skating rink — our newest attraction that quickly became a fan favorite for all ages.
Families explored vehicles of all shapes and sizes at Touch-A-Truck on July 15, from fire engines and storm-chasing trucks to hightech robots and drones (pictured, above). This interactive, STEM-focused event gives kids a hands-on look at the equipment and technology that powers our city and supports our community. Park Operations and Natural Resources staff were especially happy to showcase the heavy equipment they use to keep Frisco parks and trails in top shape.
HERITAGE HOW-TO
The Frisco Heritage Center held its first Heritage How-To class in July, and attendees learned how to make charcuterie boards (pictured, above). The new program teaches heritage skills with a modern twist, covering topics such as knitting, hosting/entertaining, sewing, and homesteading. Heritage How-To also builds awareness for the museum and historic village by attracting a new, diverse group of visitors.
DISCOVERY CENTER PROGRAMS
Staff hosted a sold-out “Long Live Linocuts!” Workshop at the Frisco Discovery Center on July 24 with instructor Lynne Hubner. The workshop tied into the summer printmaking exhibition, “imPRESSive,” in the Grand Gallery. The 2025 workshops have successfully brought in new visitors to the Discovery Center to explore art and inspire imagination.
Tabletop Adventures on July 19 had the program’s largest turnout to date as over 20 players learned about tabletop role-playing games from experienced game masters. Play Frisco staff are collaborating with DFW-based Forward RPG to expand this program.
PRESERVATION & CONSERVATION
Nature Adventures continues to draw dozens of people to Frisco Commons Park each second Saturday for a guided trail walk (pictured, right).
Volunteers helped with Adopt-a-Park activities, community partner events, and other community clean-ups.
NATURE EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Staff revealed a new Geocaching program in July! In the first month, 70 participants interacted with the caches at Harold Bacchus Community Park (pictured, left).
Staff engaged hundreds of Frisco residents and visitors in July through outreach opportunities like the T-Mobile Sustainability Fair, Freedom Fest, and Touch-A-Truck (pictured, left). The people they interacted with learned about planting for pollinators, living with urban wildlife, and nature-based play.
IMAGINATION
BUFFALO RIDGE PARK
Construction continues at Buffalo Ridge Park, located within The Grove neighborhood in east Frisco (picture, below). Clearing, rough grading, and most of the utility work has been completed. Concrete flat work is ongoing, including the basketball court, pavilion, and sidewalks. Construction is expected to wrap up in Q4 of 2025.
BLOOM: TEXAS WILDFLOWER EXHIBIT AT HERITAGE
Staff revealed the latest exhibit at the museum dedicated to the native flowers of Frisco.
“BLOOM: Wildflowers of the Blackland Prairie” features six flowers made of Italian crepe paper and created on a larger-than-life scale (pictured, above).
Families can enjoy 8-foot-tall flowers including a bluebonnet, Indian Paintbrush, firewheel, evening primrose, Black-eyed Susan and purple coneflower. The immersive exhibit touches all the senses with the sights and sounds of nature and the scents of wildflowers. Visitors can also sit and enjoy a “garden tea party” while enjoying the ambiance of the flowers. Stop by the museum soon to experience this new exhibit!
PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
The artist selection process for public art projects at City Hall and Northwest Community Park are underway. The artist selection process for Fire Stations 2 and 10, the Police parking garage and Buffalo Ridge Park will start by the end of this fiscal year.
HOW WILL YOU PLAY THIS MONTH?
THINGS TO DO
August 1
Paws in the Pool - Tickets on sale! playfrisco.org/pawsinthepool
August 8
Sensory-Friendly Day Frisco Water Park
August 9
Cycle the City PGA Trail
Nature Adventures Frisco Commons Park
Heritage in BLOOM Frisco Heritage Center
So Long Sweet Summer Frisco Water Park
August 16
Playing with Color and Form: An Abstract Art Workshop Frisco Discovery Center
August 23
Heritage How-To: Clay Jewelry Frisco Heritage Center
THINGS TO SEE
Grand Gallery
“Voices” by Nikesh Challa Group
August 6 - September 13
Reception: September 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Community Gallery
”Shades of Her” by Amanda Hay
August 6 - September 13
Reception: August 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Frisco Heritage Center
“Quinceañera Encantada” - NEW!
Opens August 22
Reception: August 21, 4-6 p.m.
“DEEP GLOW: Bioluminescent Sea Creatures through the artwork of Lauren Lewchuk”
“BLOOM: Flowers of the Blackland Prairie”
OUR MISSION & VISION
MISSION
Creating well-being through play.
VISION
Play is essential regardless of age or ability.
City Council Strategic Focus Areas
Long-Term Financial Health
Sustainable City
Leisure, Arts, and Culture
Civic Involvement
Infrastructure
Public Health and Safety
Excellence in City Government