City Council Report
October 2025
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAMMING & YOUTH SERVICES
The Programming & Youth Services team launched an expanded Fall Pickleball Schedule, offering extended daytime hours to better accommodate members during school hours. This enhancement has been received with enthusiasm, providing more opportunities for recreation and community engagement (pictured, left).
Fall recreation programs continue to experience steady growth. Several top-performing classes are attracting new participants and driving an increase in memberships at the Frisco Athletic Center. The positive momentum is a testament to the quality and appeal of Play Frisco’s offerings.
Staff began an exciting revamp of the Play Depot in September. The refresh includes the arrival of new furniture and engaging toys aimed at enhancing the experience for children of all ages. Early favorites include mini couches for the youngest guests and handheld game controllers for the older children, providing a fun and comfortable environment that families appreciate.
PARK OPERATIONS
With the end of summer, staff turned their attention to facility improvements and addressing drainage issues and landscaping needs. Staff identified areas where excessive shade limited grass growth, and implemented new landscaping plans to improve these spaces including the front of the Frisco Athletic Center (pictured, right). These projects successfully reduced erosion and debris flows onto walkways, resulting in cleaner, safer pathways for residents and visitors.
The studio walls at the Frisco Athletic Center have a new look thanks to a fresh paint job!
ENCOURAGING PLAY
PUMPKIN DUNK & NEW STAFF
The Aquatics team is preparing to host the annual Pumpkin Dunk event on October 18 at the Frisco Athletic Center. Participants pick a pumpkin from the floating pumpkin patch in the indoor pool and decorate for the fall holidays (pictured, right). The event is free for FAC members. Day Pass required for entry for non-members.
The Learn to Swim program will have three new Swim Instructor positions in FY26 to help offer more swim lessons for the Frisco community! These positions will help meet growing demand for this incredibly popular recreation program by offering additional classes to help people become safer in, on, and around aquatics environments.
ANOTHER PAW-SOME EVENT
Paws in the Pool 2025 was a fur-bulous time as always! Though it was a chilly morning for early September, 1,200 dogs and humans splashed around the Frisco Water Park before it closed for the summer (pictured, left).
Thanks again to all the vendors, and big thanks to Carpet Tech for sponsoring the event to help people and pups find well-being through play!
WELL-BEING AT THE GROVE
In September, The Grove at Frisco Commons introduced a new partnership with Chamberlain Ballet to offer a free Ballet Basics and Chair Movement class.
The Grove hosted the 2025 Craft and Care Fair, attracting over 300 guests.
Grove staff Liz Deisenhammer was recognized as Play Frisco’s Employee of the Month for outstanding customer service (pictured, left). Way to go, Liz!
BUILDING AWARENESS
GLOWING SEA LIFE & SPEAKEASY VIBES
The Frisco Heritage Center hosted various events in September. Second Saturday celebrated “Bioluminescent Magic” as over 400 visitors explored the “DEEP GLOW’ and “Quinceañera Encatada” exhibits and related activities. Heritage After Dark: Blacklight Speakeasy featured live jazz and themed mocktails like the Biolumi Fizz (pictured, right).
HERITAGE WORKSHOPS CONTINUE TO THRIVE
In September, Heritage How-To taught participants how to decorate cookies, whether they’re hosting house parties or celebrating milestones (pictured, right). This new educational program with a different topic each month continues to sell out and grow in popularity!
NRPA INNOVATION AWARD
Play Frisco staff accepted the Innovation in Environmental Resilience Award from the National Recreation and Park Association at NRPA’s annual conference in September (pictured, right).
This award recognizes a park and recreation agency leading an innovative project that creates localized solutions for addressing global or regional environmental challenges. Play Frisco received the award for the extensive work restoring endangered Blackland Prairie and educating the community about its importance to the local ecosystem.
PRESERVATION & CONSERVATION
PURPLE HEART MEMORIAL
The Frisco community gathered on September 20 to honor local heroes and dedicate the new Purple Heart Monument at Frisco Commons Park (pictured, right). The Purple Heart is a sacred emblem of sacrifice, awarded to combat veterans killed or wounded in service to our nation.
Mayor Pro Tem John Keating and the Frisco Veterans Advisory Committee recognized several Purple Heart recipients in attendance, and Rebekah Prim of Melody of Hope performed a number of patriotic songs. Frisco resident Captain Florent A. “Flo” Groberg, U.S. Army (Retired), Recipient of the Medal of Honor, Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart, was the guest speaker.
NATURE EDUCATION & OUTREACH
September was Parks for Pollinators Month, and Natural Resources staff engaged residents around that theme, joining the national initiative to connect communities with pollinator habitats. In just a few weeks, residents and volunteers logged 944 observations across 329 species, placing Frisco in the Top 15 cities nationwide!
BIRD BLIND EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
An Eagle Scout project delivered a new bird blind and restored wetland along Iron Horse Trail, completed just in time for the peak of fall bird migration (pictured, right). The bird blind also offers new opportunities for birding and environmental education.
NATURAL RESOURCES OPERATIONS
NRD Operations partnered with contractors to complete structural tree pruning at Ballpark Plaza, Bob White Park, Old Orchard Park, and Mourning Dove Park, improving long-term tree health and safety. Crews also began replacing trees along PGA Parkway between Legacy Drive and the Dallas North Tollway, refreshing the medians in preparation for future tournaments and city events.
IMAGINATION
NEW QUINCEAÑERA EXHIBIT
The Frisco Heritage Center unveiled a new exhibit in September, “Quinceañera Encatada: A Celebration of Tradition and Transformation.” The exhibit celebrates culture, family, and coming of age while honoring the beauty and significance of the quinceañera as a cherished rite of passage.
At the heart of the exhibit are ten breathtaking gowns each worn and donated by a local quinceañera. The dresses are as unique as the young women who wore them, ranging from timeless designs with lace and embroidery to bold, modern styles with sequins and vibrant colors. Explore the new exhibit soon!
MEMENTO MORI & BEFORE I DIE
“Memento Mori” returns to the Grand Gallery at the Frisco Discovery Center from October 23 to November 8. This year’s moving art exhibit about life and death features a global public art project called “Before I Die.” Originally created by artist Candy Chang, the interactive display invites people to reflect on their lives and share their personal aspirations in public (pictured, right). More than 5,000 walls have been created around the world!
COLLINSBROOK PARK
Spanning 7.5 acres, Collinsbrook Park is a new park being built in the Collinsbrook Farms neighborbohood near PGA Pkwy. and Coit Rd. A Professional Service Agreement was executed in September with design firm Dunaway Associates. When complete, the park will offer a looping trail, playground, open space, and public art. The park is on track for completion in late 2027.
HOW WILL YOU PLAY THIS MONTH?
THINGS TO DO
October 4
Kaleidoscope Park Anniversary Celebration
Kaleidoscope Park
Nature Adventures Frisco Commons Park
October 11
Planting at Monarch View Park Monarch View Park
October 14
Seedball Workshop Frisco Heritage Center
October 16
Heritage How-to: Embroidery Frisco Heritage Center
October 17
Breakfast with Santa - Tickets On Sale Event is December 6 playfrisco.org/breakfastwithsanta
October 18
Pumpkin Dunk Frisco Athletic Center
October 18-19
Frisco Camp Out Frisco Commons Park
October 22
Coffee & Culture with Lauren Lewchuk Frisco Discovery Center
October 23
Illuminate - Magic and Mayhem Frisco Heritage Center
October 24
Heritage After Dark: Haunted Heritage Frisco Heritage Center
October 25
Heritage Halloween Frisco Heritage Center
November 1
Play Night at Discovery Frisco Discovery Center
THINGS TO SEE
Grand Gallery
“Terra” Group Art Exhibition
September 17 - October 18
Reception, October 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
“Memento Mori” & “Before I Die” October 23 - November 8
Community Gallery
“Crème de la Crème” by Visual Arts Guild of Frisco September 17 - October 18
“Memento Mori” October 23 - November 8
Frisco Heritage Center
“Quinceañera Encantada: A Celebration of Tradition and Transformation”
“DEEP GLOW: Bioluminescent Sea Creatures through the artwork of Lauren Lewchuk”
“BLOOM: Flowers of the Blackland Prairie”
Sign up for our monthly newsletter to be the first to hear about new events, programs, parks, and more!
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