Firefly Park plans set in motion following Frisco EDC partnership

Developers are slated to break ground on the site before the end of April and plan to host an official groundbreaking ceremony on June 27, a Wilks Development spokesperson said.

“It’s exciting to see the [Firefly Park] vision evolve into a world-class development,” Cheney said.

What to expect

Firefly Park is poised to be one of North Texas’ premier destinations, Cheney said. Features for the incoming development include:

• 3 million square feet of Class A office space
• 400,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment spaces
• 1,200 hotel rooms, including some in a Dream Hotel
• 230 town homes
• 1,970 mid- and high-rise residential units
• A 45-acre park
• Illuminated outdoor art walk
• Hike and bike trails
• Playgrounds
• Lakes
• A wedding chapel
• An event lawn and amphitheater

“There is a high demand for more walkable, mixed-use environments with a blend of premier corporate and lifestyle facilities—Firefly Park will offer exactly that,” EDC President Jason Ford said in the release. “The immersive art walkway will make it unique from every other mixed-use development in North Texas.”

The first phase of construction will focus on building the Dream Hotel, the first 650,000 square feet of office space, some dining and shopping spaces, and the 45-acre park, according to the release.

“We expect Firefly Park to continue the success and further stimulate the growth that began in Frisco several decades ago,” Wilks Development President Kyle Wilks said in the release. “We appreciate the Frisco EDC's partnership and commitment to bringing this project to life.”

Zooming out

The city’s growth in recent years made it a top contender for the development, Wilks said.

“It’s no secret why Frisco has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.,” Wilks said. “It embodies everything we want in a community: one of the lowest tax rates in the region, leadership that’s responsive to the businesses and residents, and an overall culture of success.”

City leaders have also been looking to activate more of the north Frisco area for years. Recent additions, such as the Professional Golfers Association campus, have inspired other developments to follow suit, Ford said.

“Firefly Park is part of the ‘PGA halo effect’ accelerating development in north Frisco,” Ford said. “The infrastructure partnership creates ready-to-build sites to help attract major headquarters to Frisco.”

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct an error. There will be 1,200 hotel rooms in the development.