The gist
McKinney City Council members approved a resolution in support of the project during a March 31 meeting. The resolution authorizes City Manager Grimes to negotiate a license agreement with the Seed Project Foundation for development of the McKinney Roots Farm and Community Education Program.
The farm will be located on a 62-acre patch of land acquired by the city in 2016 for $3.5 million. The land was purchased for the city’s Gray Branch Parkland, a public park totaling 212 acres in west McKinney.
The farm would be operated by McKinney Roots, a nonprofit organization currently based north of US 380, with the goal of expanding its educational and community engagement opportunities.
The agreement will be presented to the council for consideration once negotiations are completed. City staff anticipate that it will come later this summer.
About the program
The Seed Project Foundation was established in 2015 and funds educational agricultural and community initiatives that support sustainability, according to its website. McKinney Roots became an initiative of the Seed Project in 2020.
McKinney Roots is a food donation farm that distributes fresh produce to local nonprofits and churches within Collin County, according to its website. The farm currently grows over 21 varieties of produce on 2 acres of farmland and raises 340 laying hens.
The farm was founded in 2017 and has since donated 6,300 eggs and 61,000 pounds of produce.
In 2020, McKinney Roots became an initiative of the Seed Project Foundation. Since becoming part of the Seed Project, McKinney Roots has expanded its garden to a working farm with cover crops, row crops, chickens, a hydroponic greenhouse as well as one of the locations for McKinney ISD field trips.
The background
The resolution was passed following a March 25 presentation from Parks and Recreation Director Amy Kinkade. She delivered an update on the proposed project with a timeline for moving forward.
Plans for the site include splitting the existing barn on the property into two purposes. Part of it would still be used to store equipment. The other part would be developed into a center for educational purposes, Kinkade said.
Concepts for the interior include a catering kitchen and food processing room, according to a staff presentation. It also includes a deck built at the back of the building for visitors to enjoy the view of Gray Branch, Kinkade said.
Development could also add a greenhouse, a half-acre community garden and a range of amenities, such as benches throughout the property and a picnic area.
