Planting is now underway for a planned community farm located on McKinney’s Gray Branch Parkland.

What happened: McKinney Roots officials hosted a groundbreaking ceremony May 15 for the new community farm. The nonprofit is expected to move to Gray Branch Park later in 2026, where it will have room to expand farming and educational opportunities, according to McKinney Roots’ website.

President Rick Wells said the new farm will include a 200-tree orchard with peach and pear trees, a hydroponic greenhouse and a community center converted from a barn already on-site. The community farm will also allow McKinney Roots to double its chicken flock, Wells said.

“Eggs are by far the most coveted product that we produce, and doing this will allow us to double that,” he said.

The background: McKinney Roots is an initiative of the Seed Project Foundation that distributes fresh produce to local nonprofits and churches within Collin County, according to its website.

All children under age 18 are eligible to receive free meals this summer at two McKinney ISD campuses.

McKinney ISD is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s SUN Meals program to provide free breakfast and lunch this summer, per a district news release.

A closer look: The program aims to ensure children and teens still have access to nutritious food during the summer, the release states. No registration or identification is required.

“Good nutrition shouldn’t take a summer break,” McKinney ISD Student Nutrition Manager James Shoemake said in the release. “SUN Meals makes it easy for our community’s children to stay fueled and focused throughout the summer.”

The Texas Department of Transportation is hosting a meeting in May for proposed improvements along FM 543 in McKinney.

What’s happening: TxDOT is hosting an in-person public meeting at 5 p.m. May 21 at the Myers Park and Event Center along 7117 CR 166. The department is also hosting a virtual meeting that will open at the same time as the in-person meeting. Meeting materials will be posted to the website once the meeting’s been opened.

The details: Officials are proposing improvements to FM 543 between CR 125 and Trinity Falls Parkway, according to a TxDOT media advisory. Plans include reconstructing and widening the road to two lanes in each direction, according to TxDOT’s website.

Several business have filed construction permits with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Check out five major construction permits filed around the Metroplex.

1. Simpson Manufacturing expansion: California-based manufacturing company Simpson Manufacturing is scheduled to build a 278,000-square-foot expansion at its McKinney plant near the McKinney airport, according to TDLR documents. The expansion will add space to the existing manufacturing and warehouse buildings, and include a remodel for the building’s office and training space. The company produces construction equipment and parts, including  anchors and fasteners, their website states.

• Location: 2151 S. Airport Drive, McKinney

• Estimated timeline: Sept. 1-March 31, 2028

• Estimated cost: $57 million

2. Krypton Solutions office and research facility: TDLR documents show Krypton Solutions, a manufacturing services provider, will start construction on a new office and research building in Plano in August. The company offers design services and builds parts and electrical components for manufacturing, according to Krypton’s website.

• Location: 3060 Summit Ave., Plano

• Estimated timeline: Aug. 1-Aug. 1, 2027

• Estimated cost: $14.8 million

A new $130 million East Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Station was unveiled at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on May 11.

The station is part of the DFW Forward capital improvement plan, a $12 billion project that will update many portions of the airport that opened 51 years ago, according to the airport website.

The East facility, commonly referred to as ARFF, is the first part of combining four stations into two.

A closer look: J.E. Dunn Construction and PGAL are behind the design-build partnership for the ARFF projects.

The new East Station has 10 apparatus bays, 21 dorm rooms, a dedicated training and fitness space, a support area for hazardous material, decontamination and equipment storage, and includes an F5-rated storm shelter, according to a news release.

Also of note: During the May 7 DFW Airport board of directors meeting, three ARFF contracts were awarded.

Oncor is providing and installing the necessary electric service infrastructure for both of the new ARFF stations for $1.27 million. In addition, three new vehicles were approved for purchase.