McKinney’s parks and trails system offers 80 miles of connected green space

McKinney has more than 50 parks and 80 miles of connected scenic hiking and bike trails, managed by the Parks & Recreation Department and supported by developer contributions, grants, McKinney Development Corporation money, and bond elections.

Its 2023 Trails Master Plan puts the trail count at over 78 miles and frames the network as a citywide structure of parks, greenbelts, natural areas, and recreation centers built to keep pace with McKinney’s growth.

Start with the Wilson Creek spine

If you want one route that explains how McKinney moves, start with Wilson Creek Trail. The regional trail runs 5.3 miles and connects major destinations including Towne Lake Park and Bonnie Wenk Park. The 2023 Trails Master Plan describes the Wilson Creek Greenbelt as the hallmark of the system, cutting diagonally across the city from northwest to southeast and serving as the main trunk of the trail network with branches into neighborhoods.

Commuters and runners get a continuous paved corridor instead of a disconnected park loop, and families can use the same route to move between playgrounds, lakefront access, and neighborhood trailheads. The trail’s 2023 National Recreation Trail designation adds a national distinction.

National Recreation Trails are federally recognized and intended to improve recreation access and support tourism-related economic development. McKinney’s Wilson Creek Trail was the only Texas trail to join the National Trail System that year.

Bonnie Wenk Park works best for families, strollers, and dog owners

Bonnie Wenk Park is the easiest place to send a mixed group that needs a little bit of everything. The park features trail loops, a pond, all-abilities playgrounds, a fitness court, food-truck spaces, and a dog park, plus a one-mile connection to Wilson Creek Trail. A 1.0-mile hard-surface Wilson Creek Trail segment at Bonnie Wenk Park makes it one of the most practical entry points for walkers who want a short, smooth route.

For parents with strollers, the appeal is straightforward: it is a park built for stop-and-start outings rather than endurance miles. For dog owners, the nearby Bonnie Wenk Dog Park gives the area a built-in off-leash destination, so a walk on the trail can turn into a longer outing without leaving the same park complex.

Bonnie Wenk also works as a connector, not just a destination. Because it ties directly into Wilson Creek, it gives residents an easy way to turn a neighborhood visit into a longer east-west or north-south route without having to move the car.

Towne Lake Park is the half-day destination

Towne Lake Park is McKinney’s most complete all-purpose outdoor stop. The park covers 229.77 acres, with kayak rentals, fishing, a disc golf course, a meditation garden, playgrounds, sand volleyball, restrooms, pavilions, and a 1.1-mile loop trail that connects to Wilson Creek Trail. It is centered around a 22-acre lake, which helps explain why it works so well for both active recreation and slower family time.

Kayak rentals cost $3 to unlock and $3 every 30 minutes, and paddling is allowed except during flooded conditions or when the park is closed. Visitors must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while kayaking, and pavilion reservations can be made through the Recreation Center at Towne Lake.

The city celebrated the Recreation Center at Towne Lake’s grand reopening in 2026 with funding from the McKinney Community Development Corporation.

Erwin Park is the place for cyclists who want real terrain

Erwin Park serves a different crowd entirely. The 212-acre park has 11 miles of DORBA mountain-bike trails and another 1 mile of natural-surface trail, making it McKinney’s strongest destination for riders who want elevation changes, tighter turns, and a more technical ride than the city’s paved greenway system can offer.

The park also offers campsites and pavilions for longer stays.

Renovation work is expected to begin in summer 2026 and last about a year. The 2025 Annual Development Report says the project will include an overlook tower, updated restrooms, electrification, wastewater connections, modern play equipment, enhanced campsites, new pavilions, and trail improvements. The DORBA-maintained bike paths and skills courses are not part of the renovation, though some nearby sections could be temporarily closed during construction, so riders should check current conditions before heading out.

How to use the system for everyday life

The clearest everyday benefit in McKinney comes from routes that connect places, not just loop around them. Wilson Creek Trail is the best all-around starting point because it acts like a city spine, linking Towne Lake, Bonnie Wenk, neighborhoods, and other destinations along the Wilson Creek Greenbelt. That makes it the most useful option for runners, commuters, and anyone trying to string together a practical morning or evening outing.

For families with younger children, Bonnie Wenk Park offers the most flexible stop because it combines a short hard-surface trail segment with playgrounds, open space, a dog park, and food-truck areas. For a longer weekend outing, Towne Lake Park gives you the broadest mix of recreation in one place. For cyclists who want more challenge than a paved trail can provide, Erwin Park is the city’s ride-first destination.

Why the system keeps expanding

The 2024 bond election set aside $106 million for parks, recreation facilities, and open-space improvements, and voters approved four of five bond propositions on May 4, 2024. The broader package totaled about $485.5 million, with parks part of a much larger citywide capital plan.

The city’s earlier 2019 bond also included $91 million for enhancement and expansion of the parks system. Along with developer contributions, grants, and McKinney Development Corporation money, those votes support trail links and improvements at parks like Towne Lake.