Plano Star-courier > News
Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve grand opening
By Heather M. Smith, Staff writer
Oak Point Park will be the site for Plano’s All-American Fourth Fireworks. On Saturday, spectators will gather at the Spring Creek Parkway and Jupiter Road corner of the park. The show is designed by Atlas Enterprises.
“The park is a massive landscape,” said Karen Williams, event supervisor. “The fireworks are on the Spring Creek side and the grand opening will be on the Los Rios. At the park, we’ve installed new trails and natural service trails.”
Beginning at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Plano’s parks and recreation department will host “Fireworks: All-American Fourth.” The fireworks show will be choreographed to music and simulcast on 97.5 KLAK. Patrons may park at Collin College, First United Methodist Church and the Plano Centre. The show concludes at 10:30 p.m.
“Last year we had about 30,000 attend the fireworks show,” said Karen Williams, event supervisor. “We get people parked further and further out every year. A lot of people watch the show from the perimeter of the park. We begin planning for the event a couple months ahead of time. The show is definitely different every year n especially this year, because we went with a different fireworks company.”
Free parking is available at the First United Methodist Church, Collin College and Plano Centre. Drivers can access Collin College parking from Jupiter Road and First United Methodist Church parking from Parker Road. Spring Creek Parkway between Jupiter and Fieldlark will be closed beginning at 4 p.m. on Saturday to ensure safety.
On July 11, Mayor Phil Dyer and other community leaders will join the public at the grand opening of another portion of Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve.
This will be the first city grand opening event that Dyer will preside over, but he said in no way is he taking credit for all the work put into the park.
“The park is a spectacular expansion of our nationally recognized park system. It’s going to give citizens even more of an opportunity to get out and enjoy nature and fresh air,” Dyer said. “I’m looking forward to being on the trails. There are more things planned for the park down the road.”
The 800-acre park has 3.5 miles of concrete trails and five miles of soft surface trails located along Rowlett Creek. It extends from Parker Road on the south to Chaparral Road on the north and from Spring Creek Parkway on the west to Los Rios Boulevard on the east.
Dr. Kenneth Steigman, a University of North Texas research scientist and director of the Lewisville Lake environmental learning area, will speak at the event. He has been involved in tall grass prairie restoration and management for the past 25 years. Steigman, who also lives in Plano, is set to speak about the benefits the park offers to the citizens of Plano.
Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve is a presentation of an expansive trail system. Visitors to the trails can take in a magnificent view of the 17-acre lake. After the grand opening, the nature trails will open from sunrise to sunset daily.
“The park is a massive landscape,” said Karen Williams, event supervisor. “The fireworks are on the Spring Creek side and the grand opening will be on the Los Rios. At the park, we’ve installed new trails and natural service trails.”
Beginning at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Plano’s parks and recreation department will host “Fireworks: All-American Fourth.” The fireworks show will be choreographed to music and simulcast on 97.5 KLAK. Patrons may park at Collin College, First United Methodist Church and the Plano Centre. The show concludes at 10:30 p.m.
“Last year we had about 30,000 attend the fireworks show,” said Karen Williams, event supervisor. “We get people parked further and further out every year. A lot of people watch the show from the perimeter of the park. We begin planning for the event a couple months ahead of time. The show is definitely different every year n especially this year, because we went with a different fireworks company.”
Free parking is available at the First United Methodist Church, Collin College and Plano Centre. Drivers can access Collin College parking from Jupiter Road and First United Methodist Church parking from Parker Road. Spring Creek Parkway between Jupiter and Fieldlark will be closed beginning at 4 p.m. on Saturday to ensure safety.
On July 11, Mayor Phil Dyer and other community leaders will join the public at the grand opening of another portion of Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve.
This will be the first city grand opening event that Dyer will preside over, but he said in no way is he taking credit for all the work put into the park.
“The park is a spectacular expansion of our nationally recognized park system. It’s going to give citizens even more of an opportunity to get out and enjoy nature and fresh air,” Dyer said. “I’m looking forward to being on the trails. There are more things planned for the park down the road.”
The 800-acre park has 3.5 miles of concrete trails and five miles of soft surface trails located along Rowlett Creek. It extends from Parker Road on the south to Chaparral Road on the north and from Spring Creek Parkway on the west to Los Rios Boulevard on the east.
Dr. Kenneth Steigman, a University of North Texas research scientist and director of the Lewisville Lake environmental learning area, will speak at the event. He has been involved in tall grass prairie restoration and management for the past 25 years. Steigman, who also lives in Plano, is set to speak about the benefits the park offers to the citizens of Plano.
Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve is a presentation of an expansive trail system. Visitors to the trails can take in a magnificent view of the 17-acre lake. After the grand opening, the nature trails will open from sunrise to sunset daily.
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News