Bonnie Wenk Park’s Phase II expands opportunities and amenities
By Amber Hamilton
Both residents and visitors have many options for recreation in McKinney, Texas—a booming city located north of the Dallas Metroplex. Tennis, disc golf, swimming, skating, hiking, and biking are among the options in the more than 2,500 acres of open spaces and 44 parks and sports complexes.
The city’s park system is one of the reasons McKinney has remained one of the fastest-growing cities in the country for the last 10 years. The city has focused on building its parks and recreation facilities, programs, activities, and services because residents—both current and future—want quality places to play.
One of the city’s largest parks is Bonnie Wenk Park, which opened in early 2013 and recently underwent a massive $9.2-million expansion to add a host of facilities.
But the park didn’t become a success overnight. It took years of planning by city leaders, input from residents, and a bit of nimble maneuvering and problem-solving by city staff members to grow into what it is today.
“Our residents use our parks on a daily basis, so it’s vital to reach out to them to find out what they want in this park. We want to make sure we are in tune with their needs and wants before we make an investment into such a large park like Bonnie Wenk Park,” says Parks and Recreation Director Michael Kowski.
The residents’ requests and desires were just as diverse as those who live in McKinney. From a dog park and beautiful hike and bike trails to an outdoor amphitheater that can host events and concerts, there was no shortage of ideas for what to include in the land earmarked for the park.