Frisco | March 2024

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Frisco Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 8 MARCH 12APRIL 10, 2024

Curtains to open on Frisco ISD arts center The district is expected to break ground on the project before the end of the 2023-24 school year.

INSIDE

Lebanon Trail High School’s cast of “Mary Poppins” runs through a dress rehearsal of the production in the high school’s auditorium Jan. 16.

COURTESY FRISCO ISD

Also in this issue

Impacts: New business open, coming soon in Frisco (Page 6)

Development: Second dog park coming to Frisco (Page 21)

Community: Check out summer camps in Frisco (Page 2830)

Dining: Vrindavan oers North Indian dining experience (Page 35)

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FRISCO EDITION

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Impacts

North Frisco

UNIVERSITY DR.

380

Now open

PGA PKWY.

1 Beyond Pilates The new location offers Pilates classes. • Opened March 2 • 12021 Dallas Parkway, Ste. 400, Frisco • www.thebeyondstudios.com 2 Big Blue Swim School The school offers swim lessons for children. • Opened March 4

VIRGINIA PKWY.

DNT TOLL

LEWISVILLE LAKE

PANTHER CREEK PKWY.

2478

Frisco

ELDORADO PKWY.

289

• 1642 FM 423, Ste. 103, Frisco • www.bigblueswimschool.com

SMOTHERMAN RD.

KING ST.

MAIN ST.

3 Bojangles The fast food restaurant serves southern staples. • Opened Dec. 5

COLEMAN BLVD.

ROLATER RD.

• 1631 US 380, Frisco • www.bojangles.com

S TONEBROOK PKWY.

423

4 Industrious Frisco The business offers personal training, instructor-led workouts and classes.

PARKWOOD BLVD.

SRT TOLL

MAP NOT TO SCALE

GAYLORD PKWY.

WARREN PKWY.

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• Opened Jan. 17 • 9410 Dallas Parkway, Ste. 140, Frisco • www.frisco.workhardlivefit.com 5 Puff Love The store sells vaporizers and accessories. • Opened Feb. 22 • 25691 Smotherman Road, Ste. 120, Frisco • www.puff-love.com 6 The Texas Chess Center The chess academy offers group classes, private lessons, school programs and tournaments. • Opened Jan. 14 • 11547 Independence Parkway, Ste. 530, Frisco • www.texaschesscenter.com

In the news

Now open

8 Barre3 The fitness center has been in business for 10 years. • 8855 Coleman Blvd., Frisco • www.barre3.com The Picklr About 15 pickleball clubs are planned for North Texas.

• Frisco location TBD • www.thepicklr.com

PNC Bank The bank announced 17 new branches are planned to open in the North Texas area by 2028.

9 Thai Spice The restaurant serves panang beef, tom kha noodle soup, catfish, dim sum, tofu lo mein and more, according to its website. Diners can also order house cocktails; spirits; sake; beer; wine; and desserts, such as ice cream, cheesecake and sticky rice. • Opened Feb. 4 • 13355 Dallas Parkway, Ste. 600, Frisco • www.thaispicefrisco.com

• Locations TBD • www.pnc.com

Coming soon

7 Clean Juice The business offers fresh juices, smoothies, refreshers, açaí bowls, sandwiches, wraps and cleanses • Opening March 30 • 12025 University Drive, Ste. 200, Frisco • www.cleanjuice.com

Habitat for Humanity of Collin County The organization’s CEO, Celeste Cox, announced her retirement from the position. The board of directors named the board Vice Chair Sam Lawrence as the new CEO.

• 2060 Couch Drive, McKinney • www.habitatcollincounty.org

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FRISCO EDITION

UNIVERSITY DR.

380

Impacts

PGAPKWY.

ROCKHILL PKWY.

VIRGINIA PKWY.

treatments, regenerative dentistry and more. • Opened Feb. 11 • 3535 Victory Group Way, Ste. 100, Frisco • www.naturalfocusdental.com 5 Shipley Do-Nuts The store sells iced, glazed, cake and jam-filled doughnuts. • Opened Feb. 6 • 8155 Custer Road, Ste. 100, Frisco • www.shipleydonuts.com 6 True Classic The store sells men’s apparel, such as T-shirts, active wear, jeans and more. • Opened Dec. 9 • 2601 Preston Road, Ste. 1088, Frisco • www.trueclassictees.com 7 Tsibog The restaurant serves popular Filipino dishes, such as chicken and pork barbecue skewers, grilled pork belly and ginataang hipon. • Opened Feb. 9 • 9292 Warren Parkway, Ste. 104, Frisco • www.instagram.com/tsibog_sarap

HILLCREST RD.

PANTHER CREEK PKWY.

2478

289

DNT TOLL

ELDORADO PKWY.

COLEMAN BLVD.

Frisco

423

KINGST.

MAINST.

FRISCO SQUARE BLVD.

ROLATER RD.

S TONEBROOK PKWY.

LEWISVILLE LAKE

LEBANONR

SRT TOLL

VICTORY GROUP WAY

14 15 8 2 10 6

GAYLORD PKWY.

Plano

MAP NOT TO SCALE

PARKWOOD BLVD.

Coming soon

South Frisco

opened in 2004 and now has over 100 stores. • Opened Dec. 8 • 2601 Preston Road, Ste. 1059A, Frisco • www.evereve.com

8 Chubbies The retail store sells men’s athletic, lounge and casual apparel, including shorts, pants, polos and button-up shirts. • Opening in May • 2601 Preston Road, Ste. 1036, Frisco • www.chubbieshorts.com 9 Legacy Salons & Day Spa Once open, the spa will feature 48 suites, including three spa suites, and offer a variety of services, a representative said. • Opening in late March • 9200 Lebanon Road, Frisco • www.legacysalons.com

Now open

1 E lash Beauté Services offered at E lash Beauté include eyebrow microblading, face and body waxing, eyelash and eyebrow tinting, lash coloring, and lash extensions. • Opened Feb. 17 • 8756 Teel Parkway, Ste. 322, Frisco • www.elashbeaute.com 2 Evereve The boutique sells women’s clothing and accessories, such as belts, bags, shoes and more. Evereve first

3 Millennia Wellness The business offers health coaching, hormone replacement therapy and medical weight loss, co-owner Vicki Mathew said in an email. • Opened Feb. 5 • 3246 Preston Road, Ste. 620, Frisco • www.millenniawellmd.com

4 Natural Focus Dental Specific services include pediatric dentistry, preventative care, dental cleaning, cosmetic

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10 Mango The store will sell men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, including sweaters, jackets and coats, and more. • Opening in late spring or summer • 2601 Preston Road, Ste. 1086, Frisco • www.mango.com 11 The Derbyshire The business will offer traditional British dishes—such as fish and chips, and bangers and mash—and a selection of beer, whiskey and other spirits, according to the 12 Kebab and Mo:Mo The restaurant will serve Mediterranean cuisine, a company representative said. • Opening March 15 • 8811 Teel Parkway, Ste. 170, Frisco • www.kebabandmomo.com 13 True Education The education hub offers services to improve K-12 students’ SAT, PSAT and ACT scores as well as GPAs and company’s website. • Opening in March • 6142 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco • www.derbyshirefrisco.com

other test scores. • Opening in early March • 2772 Stonebrook Parkway, Ste. 600, Frisco • www.trueeducation.com

Coming soon

Relocations

14 Vera Bradley The store sells backpacks; luggage; and bags, such as tote bags, shoulder bags and more. Vera Bradley will relocate from the first level of Stonebriar Centre to the second level. • Relocating in late February or early March • 2601 Preston Road, Ste. 2140, Frisco • www.verabradley.com

16 Savanna The child care center will offer infant care and preschool. Atop the child care, the facility will feature a coworking and parent lounge. The renovation construction is underway and will be completed sometime in May before the summer opening, officials said at the groundbreaking event. • Opening this summer • 6850 Gaylord Parkway, Frisco • www.mysavanna.co

In the news

15 Funbox The installation will be opening a temporary bounce park location in Frisco’s Stonebriar Centre on March 1, according to a Feb. 16 news release. Funbox features 25,000 square feet of 10 inflatable play zones, including a Tumble Temple, Marshmallow Mountain, Gumball’s Gallop and an obstacle course, according to the news release.

• 2601 Preston Road, Frisco • www.funbox.com/frisco

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FRISCO EDITION

Government

Council query delays Northwest Park plan Frisco City Council members discussed the latest designs, trail layout and potential changes for Northwest Community Park during a Feb. 20 work session meeting. The main direction from council members was to gather more information, Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Coates said. The project The plans presented are the most recent version of the 100-acre project and include: • A dog park • Amphitheater lawn • Toddler playground • Food truck spaces Another thing Northwest Community Park went through a

Northwest Community Park plans as of Feb. 20 include designated picnic areas.

City Council approves permit for brewery Frisco City Council unanimously approved a specific-use permit for a new Rollertown Beerworks during a Feb. 6 meeting. Developers said they should break ground on the project in the next few months. The main takeaways Both the brewery and taproom will offer roughly 13,500 square feet and 9,320 square feet, Development Review Manager Stepha- nie Scott-Simms said.

RENDERING COURTESY CITY OF FRISCO

P ANTHER CREEK PKWY.

community input phase when the project was first announced in July 2020, Coates said. “We did a community survey, and we received over 1,000 responses, which was really great,” Coates said.

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Police report assaults down, property crime up Crimes against people have been falling in Frisco overall in comparison to the past year, according to city data. There were overall fewer crimes against people in Frisco during January 2024 than in January 2023, Frisco Police Chief David Shilson presented during a Feb. 20 Frisco City Council meeting. The gist There were 161 less reported Part 1 offenses, which includes murder, aggravated assault, robbery, motor vehicle theft and arson, in January 2024 than January 2023, according to meeting documents. While there are still crimes against people taking place in the city, all indications from the city’s crime report show the number is decreasing, council member Angelia Pelham said. Crimes against property, such as vehicle thefts, are on the rise but consistent with what the rest of

Frisco zoning board recommends updated landscape ordinances Some Frisco landscape ordinances could soon be updated for the first time since 2011. The details Frisco Planning and Zoning Commission members unanimously recommended Frisco City Council approve a series of simplifica- tions to the city’s landscaping requirement ordinances during a Feb. 27 meeting. Simplifications included removing incon- sistent, repetitive and confusing language, Senior Planner Stephanie Scott-Sims said. Frisco’s development services staff mem- bers discovered some of the city’s provisions were in need of an update, Scott-Sims said.

Frisco crimes Crimes against people trended down in the last year, while crimes against property rose. January 2023 January 2024

252

Thefts

125

109

Burglary Assaults Vehicle burglary Vehicle theft

12 13

6 1

Robbery

150

300

Number of crimes committed

SOURCE: CITY OF FRISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

the country is seeing, Shilson said. Going forward A majority of the thefts from vehicles were due to the owner not locking it, Shilson said. “We encourage people to lock their vehicle,” Shilson said. “Just don’t leave things in plain view.”

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FRISCO EDITION

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Election

BY SAMANTHA DOUTY & HANNAH JOHNSON

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Frisco ISD for illegal electioneering, according to a Feb. 28 filing. This came just before the March 5 election, which was after this issue’s press time. The filing names the suit against Dynette Davis, Gopal Ponangi, Rene Archambault, Marvin Lowe, Stephanie Elad, Mark Hill and John Classe in their capacity as board members. The lawsuit also names Superintendent Mike Waldrip and Megan DeWolfe, FISD’s Government Affairs chairperson. Frisco ISD does not comment on pending litigation, a district spokesperson said. The lawsuit was filed against the district in regards to three social media posts that were published on FISD’s Government Affairs Facebook page Feb. 20, 23 and 27. The posts have since been updated. State sues FISD for electioneering Understanding electioneering Electioneering: includes the posting, use, or distribution of political signs or literature, according to the state election code. The board of trustees of an independent school district may not use state or local funds or other resources of the district to electioneer for or against any: • Candidate • Measure • Political party

The background

Feb. 20 Frisco ISD Government Affairs Facebook post stated: Last session, proposed legislation that tied public school funding to a voucher program failed, leaving Frisco ISD $90 million behind 2019 funding levels. Feb. 23 Frisco ISD Government Affairs Facebook stated: Very few competitive seats were left after Texas redistricted Senate and House districts in 2021. Redistricting mostly solidified which seats would be held by a Republican and which would be held by a Democrat. That means whoever wins the party’s primary race will most likely be elected in the general election in November 2024. Feb. 27 Frisco ISD Government Affairs Facebook post stated: In Texas, we have “open primaries,” which means any registered voter can vote in either party’s primary. Since redistricting has mostly solidified which seats will be held by a Republican and which will be held by a Democrat, some voters choose to vote in the primary of the party that’s most likely to win in their area, regardless of which party they normally identify with.

The Texas Election Code states “an officer or employee of a political subdivision may not know- ingly spend or authorize the spending of public funds for political advertising.” On Feb 29, Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a temporary restraining order against the district in regards to the same social media posts mentioned in the Feb. 28 lawsuit. The restraining order will be in effect no more than 14 days, unless it is extended, according to the filing. A temporary injunction hearing is set for March 5 in the 429th District Court in Collin County. In the lawsuit, Paxton cites the social media posts encourage individuals to vote for candidates who support public schools and who are against vouch- ers. The posts also appear to influence the reader to vote in a particular party primary, the filing states. The filing states the board members violated the Texas Election Code when they allowed DeWolfe to publish that statements referenced on the Frisco ISD Government Affairs Facebook page.

Feb. 28 Attorney General files lawsuit against Frisco ISD

Feb. 29 Attorney General files restraining order against Frisco ISD

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, FRISCO ISD GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FACEBOOK PAGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Taking a step back

electioneering after an elementary school principal emailed staff members encouraging them to vote in the primary election. Additional lawsuits have been filed against Castleberry ISD and Denison ISD.

The state does not seek monetary relief or attorney’s fees, according to the filing. This is not a first for the attorney general’s office. The office filed a similar lawsuit against Denton ISD on Feb. 22 for illegal

SOURCE: TEXAS ELECTION CODE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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FRISCO EDITION

Education

BY HANNAH JOHNSON

Frisco ISD’s high schools will be split between three University Interscholastic League districts for most sports during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. The UIL announced its 2024-26 district realignment, which deter- mines each Texas high school’s athletic conference for the next two years, on Feb. 1. The released alignments are for volleyball, basketball and football. Alignments for all other events will be released this spring, according to UIL. The background UIL splits enrollment classifi- cations for football into two divi- sions for 1-5A schools. Centennial, Frisco ISD to see new changes in UIL alignment

Frisco, Heritage, Lebanon Trail, Lone Star, Reedy and Wakeland high schools will compete in 5-5A Division I. The second district, 4-5A Division II, will include Emerson, Independence, Liberty and Memorial high schools. The details For basketball and volleyball, eight of FISD’s 5A high schools will compete in District 11: • Frisco • Centennial

• Emerson • Heritage

• Independence • Lebanon Trail • Liberty • Memorial

Lone Star, Reedy and Wakeland high schools will compete in Dis- trict 12 in Conference 5A. Panther Creek, which is the district’s only 4A high school, will compete in the conference’s District 9.

Determining classifications The classifications are determined by the number of students that attend a given school. The conference classifications are set for 2024-26. 6A 2,275+ students 3A 254-544 students 5A 1,315-2,274 students 2A 105-253 students 4A 545-1,314 students 1A 104 or less students

SOURCE: UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Workers receive winter weather pay

Frisco ISD maintenance employees will receive premium pay for their work during the Jan. 13-15 freeze. The district’s board voted to give time and a half pay to employees who worked during last month’s winter storms during a Feb. 5 meeting. FISD campuses had pipes that needed to be serviced, and about 15 employees worked overnight to ensure the

district could open for classes, said Kimberly Smith, chief finance and strategy officer. “Because our maintenance staff did such a good job, we were able to open all campuses without any closures,” board member Stepha- nie Elad said. The background Board policy allows the district to pay time and a half.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY HANNAH JOHNSON

The University of North Texas President Neal Smatresk celebrates the opening of the new Frisco Landing campus in 2022.

ALEX REECECOMMUNITY IMPACT

UNT President Neal Smatresk reects on 10 years in role

organizational issues. It was kind of like the biggest school you’ve never heard of. We laid out an ambi- tious plan; we got our nances gured out, and we said we’re going to be a top-ranked university. What has been your proudest achievement during your time as president? My proudest achievements are making this a campus that students want to go to. This is a caring campus. It was something I saw when I rst got here, and it’s something that’s precious. Why was it important for UNT to help close the gap between higher education and industry with UNT Frisco? The future of work has never been more uncer- tain. Careers are changing, [and] who people are hiring is changing. The people entering the work- force have very dierent expectations than they did

20, 30 [and] 40 years ago. We need to track what major corporations are doing, and we need to be in touch with what they want out of the workforce. The best way to do that is to engage them in our educational process. What do you envision for the future of Frisco Landing? I envision a campus of about 10,000 students on it. We’re about a third of the way there. I think the next phase of our evolution [is] we need a residence hall and dining hall. We need some recreational sports, [and] we need more clubs. I want to ll the campus during the day as well as at night.

The University of North Texas President Neal Smatresk announced he will resign from his position Aug. 1. Smatresk spoke with Community Impact about his time as president. Answers have been edited for length and clarity. How has the university changed since you took on the role in 2014? When I got here, I saw that it was a vibrant campus with a caring community, but there were some nancial troubles, [and] there were some

The full interview with Smatresk can be read online at communityimpact.com .

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FRISCO EDITION

Transportation

Upcoming projects

UNIVERSITY DR.

380

GA PKWY.

ROCKHILL PKWY.

1 Ohio Drive and Gaylord Parkway roundabout

FIELDS PKWY.

VIRGINIA PKWY.

OLIVE BRANCH RD.

Project: The intersection at Gaylord Parkway and Ohio Drive will be converted into a multilane roundabout starting late this year, according to the city’s project database. Update: Designs should wrap up sometime during summer 2024. • Timeline: late 2024-late 2025 • Cost: $3.9 million • Funding source: city of Frisco 2 Panther Creek Parkway construction Project: The Panther Creek Parkway project includes constructing a six-lane divided roadway between the Dallas North Tollway and Preston Road. Update: Designs are slated to wrap up before the end of March with construction beginning shortly after. Once work begins, it should finish before the end of 2025. • Timeline: early 2024-late 2025 • Cost: $55 million • Funding source: Collin County and the city of Frisco 3 Teel Parkway widening Project: Plans are underway to widen Teel Parkway from

PANTHER CREEK PKWY.

LEWISVILLE LAKE

2478

ELDORADO PKWY.

289

KING ST.

MAIN ST.

Frisco

DNT TOLL

ROLATER RD.

423

T ONEBROOK PKWY

TODD DR.

BANON RD.

SRT TOLL

GAYLORD PKWY.

WARREN PKWY.

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

SRT TOLL

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY ALEX REECE

two to four lanes between an unnamed road at Stafford Middle School and Olive Branch Drive. Update: This project is still in its planning phase with designs expected to be finalized by mid-2025. Construction should begin shortly after and last around one year. • Timeline: mid-2025-mid-2026 • Cost: $8.5 million • Funding source: city of Frisco

the year, according to the city’s project database. • Timeline: late 2023-late 2024 • Cost: $20.86 million • Funding source: city of Frisco 6 Universal Parkway construction Project: This will bring a new six-lane divided roadway to connect Dallas Parkway with Panther Creek Parkway, according to Frisco’s project database. Update: The name for the road was announced in early December with an update on the overall Universal Kids Resort project. It should finish in late 2024, a little under two years before the park is expected to open. • Timeline: late 2023-late 2024 • Cost: $12.94 million • Funding source: city of Frisco

Upcoming projects

Ongoing projects

4 Fields Parkway construction Project: This project, the second phase of a longer reconstruction project, will bring a four-lane road to connect FM 423 and Fields Parkway, according to Frisco’s project database. Update: Construction on the project is still ongoing and expected to finish in mid-2024. • Timeline: late 2022-mid-2024 • Cost: $14.12 million • Funding source: city of Frisco 5 North Frisco Street construction Project: This project will bring a two-lane roadway to a stretch of land between the incoming Universal Parkway and PGA Parkway. Update: Construction should finish before the end of

8 Lebanon Road widening Project: This project will turn Lebanon Road into a six-lane roadway from FM 423 to Todd Drive, according to the city’s capital improvement projects database. As-is, Lebanon is a four-lane divided road. Update: Designs for the road should be finalized sometime this summer. Current projections have construction finished just before 2026, according

Completed projects

7 Legacy Drive construction Project: The project was to create a six-lane divided roadway between Panther Creek Parkway and PGA Parkway as a connection to US 380, according to the city’s projects database. Update: This road is officially open to drivers as of Feb. 14. • Timeline: late 2022-early 2024 • Cost: $62 million • Funding source: city of Frisco

to the city’s project database. • Timeline: late 2024-late 2025 • Cost: $26.5 million • Funding source: city of Frisco

FRISCO EDITION

Transportation

BY SAMANTHA DOUTY

Collin County allocates $227M to utilities work for US 380 Relocation costs which was approved to fund road projects.

Collin County will cover the costs of moving utilities along US 380. Collin County commissioners approved funding the utility relocations along US 380 and opposed requiring the cities fund the project during a Feb. 5 meeting. The vote comes after McKinney officials requested the county to cover the costs. The commissioners decided to cover all the costs for utilities instead of choosing specific cities to aid. The details The cost is an estimated $227.1 million, which will cover McKinney, Frisco, Prosper, Princeton and Farmersville relocations, said Clarence Daugherty, the county’s director of engineering. The Texas Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the construction, will reim- burse the county an estimated $154.6 million for the utility work. The utility work must be done ahead of construction. The county funds will come from its 2018 bond,

“This project has far reaching implications not only for those cities but all those who travel in and around and live in the county,” Precinct 4 Commis- sioner Duncan Webb said during the meeting. The background The decision comes after TxDOT selected the blue alignment for the US 380 bypass project in October after an environmental impact review. Three other alignments were considered during environmental review that included various combinations of five roadway segment options. The blue alignment is composed of segments A, C and E and was TxDOT’s preferred alignment throughout the project’s planning stages. Constructing the chosen alignment is projected to cost about $3.27 billion and is the second-least expensive option, according to the document. Funding has only been partially acquired for the bypass project.

The county will cover the multiple cities costs' to move utilities along the US 380 alignment.

McKinney: $120.4 million Prosper: $57.1 million

1 2 3 4 5

Frisco: $30.8 million

Farmersville: $10.8 million

Princeton: $8 million

Total: $227.1 million

SOURCE: COLLIN COUNTY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Development

BY ALEX REECE

Progress is being made on the roughly $70 million downtown Frisco redevelopment project with Main Street construction expected to start in April, ocials said. Mayor Je Cheney, City Manager Wes Pierson and interim Engineering Services Director Jason Brodigan gave a status update on Rail District construction during a Feb. 19 town hall meeting. “We’re making major improvements in our Rail District,” Cheney said. “Council has been very committed to making sure that our downtown is a unique destination.” First of four Rail District projects near completion

The details

Learn more

Redeveloping the Rail District can be broken down into four distinct projects, Brodigan said, including: • Elm Street construction • Main Street construction • Fourth Street Plaza construction • Five-story downtown parking garage construction Work on the multiphase project ocially began when ground broke on Elm Street last July, Cheney said. That phase of the Rail District is expected to wrap up soon, Brodigan said. Once Elm Street reopens, it can be used as a detour path for drivers to avoid Main Street when the next wave of construction hits. “We’ll start construction on [Main Street] in April,” Brodigan said. “We’re full throttle right now trying to get those plans nished up so we can go to bid.” Main Street construction is expected to last two years.

The work planned for Main Street is designed to ensure some sections will be open to drivers during construction, Brodigan said. “We’ll never fully close Main Street,” he said. “Maybe overnight, but [it will] never ... really [be] fully closed for a long period of time.”

July 2023-Feb 2024: Elm Street construction April 2024-early summer 2026: Main Street construction

Summer 2024-early summer 2026: Fourth Street Plaza construction Summer 2024-mid-summer 2025: Five-story downtown parking garage construction

CITY OF FRISCOCOMMUNITY IMPACT

What else?

Work on the overall Fourth Street Plaza and parking garage construction is expected to begin this summer. “We are working out the exact timing between which one starts rst because they share a boundary, and we don’t want one to get in the way of the other,” he said. All four projects should nish in early summer 2026, just ahead of the FIFA World Cup, Brodigan said. FIFA matches will be held in Arlington with Frisco to be a potential team host city.

Construction on Main Street is expected to start in April as the project moves toward its 2026 deadline.

Parking garage construction

Fourth Street Plaza construction

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Development

BY ALEX REECE

UNIVERSITY DR.

380

PGA PKWY.

ROCKHILL PKWY.

VIRGINIA PKWY.

LEWISVILLE LAKE

PANTHER CREEK PKWY.

2478

ELDORADO PKWY.

289

KING ST.

MAIN ST.

Frisco

Update: Project designs are expected to be finalized by the end of March, according to the city’s project database. Construction is slated to begin shortly after. • Address: near Rockhill and Teel Parkways • Timeline: early 2024-early 2025 • Cost: $7.6 million 5 Harold Bacchus Community Park dog park Project: The dog park, known as Forest Bark, will be located inside Harold Bacchus Community Park. Update: This project is still in its design phase. • Address: 13995 Main St. 4 Tuscany Meadows Park Project: Tuscany Meadows Park is one of many of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department’s reinvestment projects. Improvements planned for the 6-acre neighborhood park include new pedestrian paths and a new inclusive playground. Update: Construction is nearly finished and the park should reopen before the end of March. • Timeline: early 2023-early 2024 • Cost: $2.13 million • Address: 10205 Teal Hollow Drive

DNT TOLL

ROLATER RD.

423

SHEPHERDS HILL LANE

T ONEBROOK PKWY

LEBANON

SRT TOLL

TEAL HOLLOW DR.

GAYLORD PKWY.

WARREN PKWY.

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

SRT TOLL

1 Shepherds Glen Park Project: Located in the Shepherds Hill subdivision and next to Frisco ISD’s Gunstream Elementary and Cal and Wester Middle schools, Shepherds Glen Park should see an update before the end of 2025. Upgrades will include a larger splash pad, larger playground, new parking areas and retrofitted shade structures. Update: The project is still in its design phase, with construction expected to start shortly after it wraps up in mid-2024. • Address: 12012 Shepherds Hill Lane • Timeline: mid-2024-late 2025 • Cost: $3.3 million 2 Northwest Community Park Project: This 120-acre project is expected to provide additional connection points to Frisco’s extensive hike

and bike trail network, according to the city’s website. Some features of the park include mountain bike trails, hiking trails, play elements and a bike course. Update: Frisco City Council members requested city staff revise their plans and gather more input for the park at a February meeting. Construction should still break ground in mid-2024.

• Address: 13400 Teel Parkway • Timeline: mid-2024-mid-2025 • Cost: TBD 3 Frisco on the Green

Project: Located just south of Poppyvine Road, Frisco on the Green is a new park for the nearby neighborhoods. Similar to plans for Northwest Community Park, Frisco on the Green will also provide links to existing city trails as laid out in Frisco’s Hike and Bike Trail Master Plan.

• Timeline: late 2024-mid-2025 • Cost: estimated at $4 million

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FRISCO EDITION

Events

as a colorful celebration of the passing of winter and arrival of spring. The event will have music, dancing and throwing colors at each other. Attendees will get wet and colorful. Participates should wear old clothes and shoes, and sunglasses to protect their eyes. • March 23, 2-5 p.m. • Free (admission), $3 for bag of color, $5 for water shooters • 11955 Independence Parkway, Frisco • www.friscotexas.gov/1492/frisco-festival-of-colors J’s Dueling Pianos in The District This live show is an all-request sing-along featuring crowd favorites. Concession stands will sell snacks and adult beverages. • March 23, 6-9 p.m. • Free (admission) • Monument Realty PGA District, 3255 PGA Parkway, Frisco • http://tinyurl.com/but93dxm TTRPG for Beginners Those ready to play tabletop role playing games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, but don’t know where to start might enjoy this workshop. Each session will be a one-off mini campaign, and no experience or character sheet is required. • March 27, 7-8 p.m. • Free

Parents are allowed to paint alongside their children or sit and watch. • March 16, noon-1:30 p.m. • $35 • 4112 Legacy Drive, Ste. 306, Frisco • www.paintingwithatwist.com/studio/frisco Calaboose Singer Songwriter Play Frisco’s Cultural Affairs Division features artists Matt James, Mila Rae and Shea Abshier performing original songs in the Center City District. • March 21, 7-8:30 p.m. • Free • Frisco Heritage Museum, 6455 Page St., Frisco • http://tinyurl.com/3e268dmd Frisco’s Got Talent The city’s most talented performers will take the stage in hopes to become the Frisco’s Got Talent Season 3 champion. • March 22, 7-8:30 p.m. • $20 • Nack Theater, 6711 Oak St., Frisco • www.nacktheater.com Frisco Festival of Colors The city of Frisco and Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple are collaborating for this annual festival that serves

March

Community Plant Swap The Frisco Public library will host a community plant swap. Attendees should bring an indoor or outdoor plant labeled with the species name in a pot they are willing to depart with. Plants should be healthy and pest free, and attendees will bring a new plant home with them. • March 14, 6-7:30 p.m. • Free • Community Event Room, 8000 Dallas Parkway, Frisco • www.friscolibrary.com Feed the City Volunteers are needed to help feed those in need at the monthly Feed the City event in Frisco. To be ready to help, volunteers are asked to bring bread, sandwich meat, tangerines and other snacks, cheese, and sandwich bags that zip shut. • March 16, 8:30-10 a.m. • Free • Sidecar Social, 6770 Winning Drive, Frisco • www.tangocharities.org/feed-the-city-frisco Twist Family Neon Irish Shamrock Painting with a Twist will host a family painting day.

BY DUSTIN BUTLER

• Frisco Public Library, Creativity Common, 8000 Dallas Parkway, Frisco • www.friscolibrary.com

April

Total Eclipse of the Park Party Head to The Grove at Frisco Commons to enjoy food, music and fun activities at this eclipse party. Frisco is in the path of totality, making it a good place to see the full eclipse. • April 8, noon-2 p.m. • Free Candidate Forum The Frisco Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum for the Frisco City Council and Frisco ISD board of trustees races. • April 11, 6-8 p.m. • Free • Grace Church Frisco, 440 Grace St., Frisco • www.friscochamber.com • 8300 McKinney Road, Frisco • http://tinyurl.com/ye23twfr

FC Dallas vs. Vancouver FC Dallas will take on Vancouver Whitecaps FC in this Major League Soccer regular season game. • March 16, 7:30 p.m. • $24-$75 • Toyota Stadium, 9200 World Cup Way, Frisco • www.fcdallas.com

’Disney on Ice: Magic in the Stars’ This production will bring Disney stars, such as Asha from “Wish,” Elsa and Anna from “Frozen,” and Raya from “Raya and the Last Dragon,” to life through figure skating, stunts, special effects and more. • April 4-6, times vary • $25-$90 • Comerica Center, 2601 Avenue of the Stars, Frisco • www.disneyonice.com

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Real estate

Residential market data

Number of homes sold

January 2023

January 2024

+29.6%

-48.48%

-10.34%

-20%

More than 100 homes were sold in Frisco during January 2024. More than 200 new listings were added to the market.

75033

75034

75035

75036

380

75033

Median home sales price

DNT TOLL

75035

75036

January

2023

2024

75034

$782,856 $944,918 $761,056 $615,450

$729,118 $800,487 $672,798 $712,438

SRT TOLL

75033

423

75034

Homes sold by price point

75035

January

75036

$1 million+

$700,000-$999,999

Average days on the market

January 2023

January 2024

$400,000-$699,999

-38.4%

5.88%

-20.97%

-16.28%

$100,000-$399,999

<$99,999

MARKET DATA COMPILED BY COLLIN COUNTY AREA REALTORS • WWW.CCAR.NET

75033

75034

75035

75036

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FRISCO EDITION

From the cover

Curtains to open on Frisco ISD arts center

Zooming in

The big picture

The center will allow the district to host larger performance events. In recent years, the district has seen schools outgrow their auditoriums. For example, a band concert was recently held at Stonebrook Com- munity Church because the district’s high school auditoriums have a limited capacity size and could not fit the concert’s crowds, Hazzard said. The district does not have any spaces large enough to accommodate bigger productions, he said. “This district deserves a beautiful place,” FISD trustee Mark Hill said at a December board meeting. “We excel at so many things in the fine arts place, so it’s due time.” Going beyond space, the district’s student opportunity model played a factor when designing the facility, Hazzard said.

The district operates a higher number of elementary, middle and high schools as part of its student opportunity model. The guiding principle increases student engagement by allowing a greater percentage of students to participate in leadership roles and more extracurricular activi- ties, district officials said.

Frisco ISD’s new performing arts center is designed to be a hub for its arts programs. “We’re not just looking at the performance hall, but we’re looking at all the spaces in the facility and being able to increase programming opportunities because we’ll have a centralized home,” said Preston Hazzard, FISD’s managing director of fine arts. The proposed $54.9 million center is slated to break ground before the end of the school year. During the 2023-24 school year, 78% of middle school students and 51% of high school students are enrolled in fine arts.

Fine arts enrollment

Middle school

20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0

The setup

Stage and Performance hall Lobby Back of house and support Fine arts office Two multipurpose rooms

Nathan Huette with Corgan Architects, the firm designing the facility, said his team worked with FISD’s fine arts department as well as the construc- tion, maintenance and technology departments in the district. “It was a great collaborative effort for our part,” Huette said during a December board meeting. Once built, the center will include an audito- rium, gallery space and office space. “Frisco is very special in that it is very support- ive of the arts,” Hazzard said.

High school

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 0

Approximately 1,200 seats with upper balcony seating

2nd floor art exhibit gallery

SOURCE: FRISCO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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