Visit McKinney board hears updates on venue groundbreaking, JW Marriott plans, parks projects and tourism initiatives

At its June 24 meeting, the Visit McKinney board heard progress reports on downtown and regional tourism projects — including a recent groundbreaking for a new venue expected to open for the 2026 season, the JW Marriott announcement, and a $500 million Encore Wire campus investment — and received a detailed parks-and-recreation capital projects update.

The reports matter for McKinney’s tourism and economic-development outlook: board staff said recent events and a large tournament helped push occupancy to 77% during the month of the Byron Nelson, and fiscal-year-to-date lodging receipts were up nearly 9% compared with the prior year.

Aaron Warner, executive director of Visit McKinney, described several large private and public projects. He said the JW Marriott proposal is for a 290-room hotel with about 51,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. Warner also highlighted the recently completed groundbreaking for a new performance venue, which staff said is on target for the 2026 season, and he noted Encore Wire held a groundbreaking for a $500,000,000 investment in its campus. Warner said the Byron Nelson extension will remain in McKinney through at least 2030 and that the tournament contributed to higher occupancy; he added the office’s second influencer fan tour will run in late June.

Paul Grimes, city manager, said the airport project is mobilizing on site. When asked whether pending litigation would affect the airport schedule, Grimes said he could not comment on litigation but stated, “we are moving forward with the project.”

Alicia Holmberg, who presented finance and lodging metrics for Visit McKinney, reported strong monthly performance: May lodging tax receipts were a little over $300,000, roughly 5% above last May, and the fiscal year is up nearly 9%. Holmberg also said the organization is about 67% of the way through the fiscal year and that the services-and-sundry budget line—which holds many incentive and grant payouts—was about 55.8% spent.

Marketing and communications highlights included a statewide awards sweep and a donated billboard. Paul Grimes and Warner noted the city’s communications team won 11 awards at the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers conference. Warner said a local billboard owner donated a small sign on the U.S. 75 service road to Visit McKinney for promotional use.

Economic development updates came from MEDC and MCDC representatives. Mike Kowski (MEDC) reported the venue groundbreaking and Encore Wire investment; Chris Wilkes (MCDC) said the MCDC recently accepted promotional grant applications and will consider a retail infrastructure grant cycle beginning July 1, and he flagged an upcoming vote on a JW Marriott-related project at Craig Ranch.

Amy Kincaid, director of McKinney Parks and Recreation, gave an extensive briefing on parks capital projects and events. Highlights included completion of Phase 1 of the McKinney Soccer Complex at Craig Ranch and plans to add turf and championship fields in a later phase; playground replacements on a multi-year schedule; Wilson Creek trail connections; renovations at Town Lake (including a new light walk and improved access); improvements at Erwin Park, including ADA overlooks, campsite utilities and restroom upgrades; and plans for a regional sports park on about 230 acres near Bloomdale. Kincaid said Old Settlers Park Phase 1 is moving forward now that a street alignment is complete. On events, she reported Juneteenth drew more than 2,000 attendees and included McKinney’s first drone show.

Boards and committees also described local downtown activity: Andrew Jones, Jones Cultural District director, said the historic downtown water tower will be preserved and that new businesses and public art are coming to the square. Chris Wilkes said MCDC awarded several project grants recently, including funds for trail upgrades at a natural science museum and a half-million-dollar allocation for a tower preservation effort.

The meeting also included personnel and administrative notes: staff and board members recognized Beth Shumate of Visit McKinney on the eve of her retirement after about 18 years with the organization.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the minutes for the May 27, 2025 Visit McKinney board meeting (consent item 25-2902) on a motion by Whitney Nash with a second by Jill Barnes; the meeting later adjourned on a motion by a board member identified as Patrick with a second by Whitney Nash. The transcript records both motions as approved without a detailed roll-call tally.

The board did not take any formal policy votes on the capital projects reported; most items were informational updates or committee reports, and staff noted a number of projects will proceed to later procurement or permitting steps.