The event will also mark the grand opening of the East McKinney Learning Garden, an initiative of the McKinney Parks Foundation.
The gist
The event will be held from noon-3 p.m., April 19 at the new city hall, located at 401 E. Virginia St.
The celebration, which is free and open to the public, will offer self-guided tours of the city hall, food trucks, and art and history exhibits, the release states. A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony will also take place at 12:30 p.m.
Eventgoers will also be able to tour the East McKinney Learning Garden, participate in activities for children, and enjoy live music by George Dunham and The Bird Dogs. For more information on the event, including parking details, visit www.mckinneytexas.org/cityhall.
The context
McKinney’s new city hall was primarily funded by a $50 million bond passed by voters in 2019. The 175,000-square-foot facility, which began being constructed in October 2022, consolidated the operations of city departments that were previously spread across nine locations, according to the release.
The facility features a number of open, collaborative spaces intended to facilitate innovation, and the consolidation of city operations is expected to streamline services and add convenience for residents. The building will also accommodate growth in the organization as the city continues to grow.
"You cannot overstate the impact this modern, well-equipped space will have on employee recruitment, retention, engagement and professionalism,” City Manager Paul Grimes said in the release. “The building was designed to increase employee collaboration and create a more connected workforce. By hiring and retaining top talent, we can provide the best possible service to our community.”
Quote of note
"This new city hall is more than a building. It stands as a symbol of progress, growth and the city's commitment to serving its residents," Mayor George Fuller said in the release. "Even further, it serves as a central hub for city services, civic engagement, and community pride and serves as a catalyst for the revitalization of East McKinney."
Also of note
The East McKinney Learning Garden is located on the same site as Tupps Brewery, and is adjacent to the McKinney Flour Mill and McKinney’s new city hall.
The project, an initiative of the McKinney Parks Foundation, features over 30 raised garden beds, potting benches and a harvest wash area. The garden can serve as an outdoor classroom and is intended to help address food insecurity in the community through teaching residents how to grow and maintain their own food-producing gardens. Food produced at the site will be donated to local organizations working to address food insecurity, according to the McKinney Parks Foundation website.
A ribbon-cutting for the site was held in December. The project was supported through community fundraising and collaboration with the McKinney Community Development Corporation.
