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Apartment developers building $5 million park for Little Elm
By Emily Hill, ehill@starlocalnews.com
Although last year's rezoning of a multi-family tract near FM 423 and Smotherman Road in Little Elm was not well received by the residents of Frisco and Little Elm, perhaps the silver lining to the upscale apartments project will sway some--a new public park.
As part of the 110-acre rezoning agreement passed in March 2011, a 38-acre public park along Cottonwood Creek and FM 423 was given to the community by the developers. The rezoning allowed a net acreage of 73 acres to be used as apartment complexes. The apartments will be luxury town homes and resort-style urban living.
The rest of the land, a floodplain, would become McCord Park, named after the family who owned the property before selling to the developers.
McAfee does not expect the floodplain the park is built upon to become a problem, although portions of the park will flood during storms.
"All public improvements are being constructed so that they will not impede flow, are bolted down and should not be a problem," McAfee said.
McCord Park provides the area with a wooded park that includes 10-foot-wide hike and bike trail, playgrounds, picnic areas, a fishing dock, pedestrian bridges and an 18-hole disco golf course--all paid for and constructed by the developers for over $5 million.
"I doubt any special events will be held there because it's pretty wooded, but the park will have a disc golf course, multiple playground and picnic areas, a trail and a fishing dock, so we expect it to get a lot of use," McAfee said.
McAfee said the developers are also giving the town a digital monument sign along FM 423 to match the others installed around Little Elm.
"That's a big cost-savings, too," McAfee said.
The park is currently being built throughout the phases of construction for the apartment complexes, and is expected to be complete by spring of 2013 if not sooner.
"Ultimately, this is a $5 million public park with a lot of cool features that was paid for by developers via last year's zoning case," McAfee said. "Also, this is 38 acres that will now be preserved--visually, this will in time look really nice being all wooded and manicured when driving down FM 423."
For information about the park project and others around town, contact the Planning Department at 214-975-0472.
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