The city of McKinney has invested millions of dollars to create what staff said will be one of the largest connected park systems in North Texas.

On July 29, the city announced that it acquired 230 acres of parkland within the Painted Tree residential development. The acquired tract, located on the southwest corner of County Road 1006 and Bloomdale Road, was bought for $23 million, according to Communications and Media Manager Denise Lessard. Money for the purchase comes from voter-approved bonds and funds from the McKinney Community Development Corporation.

Athletic fields, recreational facilities and future community and economic development projects will be built upon the new land, according to a news release. With the purchase, McKinney announced it has 700 acres of connected parks and open space.

“The location of this quality land is ideal because of its adjacency to approximately 280 acres of existing parkland—which includes Erwin Park—and the future connection to over 200 acres of public parkland that Painted Tree will deliver to the community,” said Michael Kowski, director of the city's parks and recreation department, in the release.

Master-planning for the new 230 acres of city parkland will begin later this year, the release said. Painted Tree is slated to open in 2022.