- Water feature
- Outdoor video screen
- Stage
- 1,100 space parking garage
Both the Hall Group and Frisco Community Development Corporation will contribute $7 million for the expansion. Any expenses above $14 million will be covered by the Hall Group.
“We don’t think cities, and in turn their citizens, should take on open-ended financial risks,” said Craig Hall, chair and founder of the Hall Group.
The background
Mayor Jeff Cheney said the city approved its updated commercial open space ordinance in 2017, which requires usable open space to be implemented in all future commercial projects. For example, city code could require 10% of a commercial lot be dedicated to open space. Kaleidoscope Park is an expression of this ordinance, Cheney said.
Anchored by its “Butterfly Rest Stop” art installation, the park sits on 5.7 acres of land.
Since it opened, Kaleidoscope Park has been a regional draw that is sending visitors to other attractions in Frisco, such as The Star and the Rail District. Nearly 23% of Kaleidoscope Park visitors also visited Frisco’s Center at Preston Ridge shopping center, which is tracked with cell phone data.
Zooming out
According to estimates by the Kaleidoscope Park Foundation, a nonprofit partner of Communities Foundation of Texas, the park could draw a million visitors over the first five years since opening in 2024. The amenities included in the expansion will add to the variety of programming offered at the park year-round, Cheney said.
Once the development permits are issued for the park expansion, it will need to be completed in two years.
The regional draw is one reason the city decided to partner on the expansion project.
The impact
The expansion will need to be finished within two years of the city issuing the permits. Construction on the park expansion is anticipated to finish in June 2028.
It’s estimated the park could add tens of millions of dollars in direct spending to the region’s economy by injecting more visitors into the area who will participate in the local economy, according to the Kaleidoscope Park Foundation.
Shawn Jackson, executive director of the Kaleidoscope Park Foundation, said there were more than 15,000 people at the park for its opening weekend. On a Saturday or Sunday when the weather is nice, Jackson guesses 2,000 or more people visit the park throughout the day.
"I’m pretty surprised at how quickly people are activated in the park and engaged with all of the things that we’re doing,” Jackson said.
Jackson said the park is drawing people from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.
What they're saying
“When you do these public-private partnerships, it allows you to add community amenities at a lesser cost. I think you’ll continue to see ongoing collaborations like this as the Frisco community continues to build out.” - Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney
“With all the programs that we have going on, everybody’s really enjoying them ... things have been really successful.” - Shawn Jackson, executive director of Kaleidoscope Park Foundation.
“We’re reimagining Hall Park to have more of an experience ... It was amazing to get to this point.” - Ben Brewer, chief operating officer for Hall Group
