Frisco breaks ground on 1,011-acre Grand Park project

Families waiting for Frisco’s long-promised Grand Park now have a clearer answer on what comes first and when they may use it. The city broke ground April 27 on the initial phase, called the Civic Room, a 58-acre section south of Cotton Gin Road between the Dallas North Tollway and Legacy Drive, with construction expected to wrap in the third quarter of 2027.

Grand Park is planned as a 1,011-acre public park stretching from the Dallas North Tollway west to Lake Lewisville and FM 423. At full buildout, city leaders say it will be larger than New York City’s Central Park, a comparison that underscores how central the project has become to Frisco’s identity and future growth. City materials describe it as a world-class urban oasis for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.

The first phase is designed to deliver more than open lawn space. City planning documents and earlier project descriptions point to infrastructure, lake and trail development, ecological enhancements and public amenities such as pavilions, playgrounds and ponds. City staff have also said the first pond is being designed large enough for water sports such as kayaking, signaling that the park is intended to function as a regional destination, not just a neighborhood green.

For Frisco, the groundbreaking marked the latest step in a project years in the making. The city partnered with IDEO in 2023 to shape the Grand Park vision, and the Frisco City Council formally adopted guiding principles for the park in January 2024. On Oct. 7, 2025, council approved a construction contract with Crossland Construction for the first phase, setting the project in motion after a long planning period.

City documents in April referenced a $43 million approval for phase one, while earlier reporting put the first-phase estimate at $35 million. Either way, the price tag reflects the scale of the work ahead in a city that continues to add homes, roads, retail and mixed-use projects across its west side and around downtown Frisco.

The April 27 ceremony had originally been planned for April 13, with the later date held as a backup because of weather. With construction now underway, the park is moving from vision to dirt work, and the first pieces residents will actually use are finally on a timeline Frisco can point to.