Council adopts updated parks and recreation master plan 'Plan Your Play' to guide park investments

Frisco City Council voted 6-0 on April 1 to amend the city’s comprehensive plan to incorporate the updated parks and recreation master plan, Plan Your Play, and directed staff to prepare an implementing ordinance.

The plan—which staff and consultants said was driven by a year of community engagement—evaluates the city’s park system (86 parks, roughly 2,300 acres, and about 244 miles of on- and off‑road trail) and sets priorities for capital projects, policy changes, staffing and partnerships over the next decade to 15 years.

Why it matters: The plan is intended to guide where the city invests limited public land and capital funds as Frisco’s population grows. Staff said Frisco currently meets national standards for park acreage per 1,000 residents, but with projected growth the city will need more acreage and greater trail connectivity; staff told council an additional 962 acres would be needed by 2031 if the city followed national per‑capita standards.

Play Frisco director Shannon Coates and design consultant Claire Hempel summarized the plan’s approach and community input. Hempel said the process included open houses, pop-up events and a statistically valid survey; the plan’s top priorities from public input included trees, shade, trails and connectivity, plus opportunities for nature‑based spaces and more diverse programming.

The plan’s recommendations are organized by type—capital projects, policies, staffing and partnerships—and are not site‑specific in the main recommendations; staff used a suitability analysis to identify potential sites and priorities for land acquisition, updates to older parks and a potential new recreation center. The plan also recommends exploring more public‑private and joint‑use partnerships (for example, shared use of school district facilities) to stretch limited public land and resources.

Councilmembers praised the depth of the work and the public engagement. The plan was previously approved by the Parks and Recreation Board and the Planning & Zoning Commission, staff said.

Vote at meeting: Motion to adopt Comprehensive Plan amendment and Plan Your Play (Item 25) — Motion by Bill; second by Tammy. Vote: 6-0. Outcome: approved.

What’s next: Staff will prepare an ordinance to formally incorporate the plan into the comprehensive plan and will return with implementation priorities and budget requests as part of the city’s normal capital planning cycle. Staff also plans additional outreach as specific projects are scoping and funded.

Quote: “These recommendations are truly born from community feedback and discussions,” Claire Hempel said during the presentation, summarizing the outreach that shaped the plan.