| Grants for open-space projects OK'd More than $1.6 million will go toward parks, recreation facilities 05/30/2001 By Curtis Howell / The Dallas Morning News
Collin County Commissioners committed money and time Tuesday to an
ever-more-ambitious plan for county parks and recreation facilities.
They unanimously approved more than $1.6 million for 10 open-space
projects around the county, marking the first major sharing of county
resources for municipal park projects.
They also received a consultant's report recommending that Collin County
pursue building a large sports complex that would include an arena, a
stadium, multiple baseball/softball fields, indoor soccer and ice hockey
facilities, and a dormitory for visiting athletes.
The money approved for the parks and open-space projects is the first
round of grants from about $5 million in bond funds approved by voters
two years ago.
"We funded something for every project that applied," said Bill Moore,
who made the recommendations on behalf of the Collin County Parks
Foundation.
The largest grant, $500,000, went to Allen for a planned 124-acre park
along Rowlett Creek.
Don Horton, Allen Park and Recreation director, said the county's
contribution to the $2 million project allowed the city to move ahead
much quicker than it could have without the help.
"It allows us to move ahead right away to try and get the land
purchased," he said. "With that done, the park could be opened in five
to seven years." Once open, it will also benefit cities north and south
of Allen, Mr. Horton said. "It will be the backbone of the trail system
along Rowlett Creek between Plano and McKinney."
Other grants approved Tuesday included $250,000 to Frisco for park land
also along Rowlett Creek between State Highway 121 and U.S Highway 380.
Richardson received two grants totaling $437,000 for trails projects
that would be part of the Rowlett Creek system.
Plano got $150,000 for a trail connecting Plano and Frisco along White
Rock Creek. McKinney received $175,000 to expand the Wilson Creek
Greenway north of Virginia Parkway.
Soon after the commissioners received the recommendations, they began
asking how soon more grants could be recommended.
"We told voters this was important," said County Judge Ron Harris.
Added Commissioner Jerry Hoagland, "They are as anxious to spend it as
we are."
Commissioner Joe Jaynes said the county has partnered with cities on
road projects for several years. "It's nice to see us doing it on open
spaces," he said.
Another ambitious plan involves what would be a giant multisport complex
that commissioners began considering in January when they approved
$175,000 for consultants to study feasibility. Tuesday, they heard the
first set of recommendations from Convention Sports and Leisure.
Consultant Bill Rhoda compared the possible Collin County complex to
several similar projects around the country saying the concept fits well
here. No location was designated, but county officials earlier had said
it would most likely be somewhere near a major highway corridor.
The facility would serve youth, amateur, semiprofessional and possibly
even professional sports teams.
His recommendations were for a 25,000-seat stadium, a 12,000-seat arena,
a separate indoor sports complex with two ice rinks for hockey and an
indoor soccer field, 15 to 25 soccer fields, six to eight fields for
baseball and softball, and a dormitory.
Mr. Rhoda said the complex would be a destination for national
tournaments and could draw 2.5 million participants to the area yearly.
He said the complex would be financially self-sustaining and could pump
$46 million a year into the economy and boost tax collections by more
than $3 million.
The next phase of the project, officials said, will be to develop a
master plan and develop a design. Then rough costs can be determined and
funding sources identified.
All of the similar projects he evaluated involved a combination of
public and private funding, Mr. Rhoda said.
No timetable has been identified, but some funding for early work could
be part of the 2003 bond package, officials said.
In other action, commissioners approved a timetable for transferring the
Old Collin County Courthouse to the city of McKinney for restoration.
Commissioners will likely approve the transfer of ownership at their
June 11 meeting. The city would take up the matter June 19.
The actual transfer would probably occur in early July, according to
JonPiatt, with the McKinney Community Development Corporation.
Groundbreaking for the $6 million restoration of the 100-year-old city
centerpiece would follow soon after the transfer, he said.
Staff writer Curtis Howell can be reached at 214-977-7472 and at .
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