Construction is officially underway on the first phase of Grand Park, Frisco’s long-planned signature park near downtown.

What you need to know: City officials broke ground April 27 on the park, which will span over 1,000 acres just west of the Dallas North Tollway. Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney said Grand Park will be a “world-class park” and compared its scale to New York City’s Central Park, which covers about 843 acres.

Some context: He said Grand Park is one of Frisco’s “20-year overnight success stories,” as the project has been in the works since Frisco voters approved bond funding in 2006. Construction on the Grand Park was delayed for years as the city worked through environmental issues tied to the former Exide Technologies site nearby.

Quote of note: “Today is a true milestone in the future of Frisco,” Cheney said. “This is a generational gift for this community.”

Urban Outfitters is now open in Frisco's Stonebriar Centre. 

What they offer: The retail store sells clothing, shoes and more. 

• Stonebriar Centre, 2601 Preston Road, Ste. 1239, Frisco

Keep up to date on the road projects happening around Dallas-Fort Worth, including work finishing up on US 380 and Lebanon Road being expanded to six lanes.

Collin County 

Highway Safety Improvement Program

Project: Updates include modernized traffic signals, upgraded equipment, increased capacity and enhanced pedestrian features to streets in Allen.

Update: Construction is wrapping up with three intersections remaining at Century Parkway and Bethany Drive, Greenville Avenue and Bethany Drive, and Main Street and Greenville Avenue.

• Timeline: construction to wrap up by summer 2026
• Cost: $5.8 million
• Funding sources: city of Allen, Texas Department of Transportation

• Timeline: construction to finish late next year
• Cost: $23 million
• Funding source: Denton County, city of Frisco

Texas residents are increasingly facing damaging storms that drive up home insurance rates and other housing costs. Ahead of the state's 2027 legislative session, consumer advocates and insurance industry representatives are urging lawmakers to consider affordability solutions.

What's happening: The average Texas home insurance premium—the amount paid to an insurance company—was $3,291 in 2024, according to the latest Texas Department of Insurance data. In total, premiums rose about 50% between 2022-24.

Texas’ high propensity for natural disasters has been “the No. 1 driver” behind recent rate increases, said Rich Johnson, a spokesperson for the Insurance Council of Texas.

Stay tuned: While Texas can't legislate itself out of weather risks, lawmakers have considered some policy changes to increase disaster resiliency and boost regulatory oversight of the insurance industry. Proposals range from creating grants to help residents weather-proof their homes to placing limits on future rate hikes.