The aging facilities of Cannaday Recreation Area, which serve a middle school, elementary school, and an established single-family neighborhood, were in strong need of renovation. Frisco Parks planners wanted to revitalize the neighborhood park by creating a ‘fitness-centered’ playground- as part of a general campaign by the city to promote health-conscious living and provide more exercise and active recreation opportunities for users. 

Valley Quest Design was selected by the Parks and Recreation Department to provide master plan concept options, based on previous preliminary studies by in- house Parks staff. The preferred concept direction was a linear layout featuring clean, modern lines and soothing gray concrete, contrasted by vivid blue, orange and yellow-hued poured-in-place surface materials stretching across the ground plane. This new park design incorporates a comprehensive approach to outdoor fitness with equipment for all ages, from children to seniors. Project construction completed in October 2022.

The park features a variety of new additions and upgrades to the existing facility. The fitness equipment is arranged as a linear obstacle course, anchored on one end by a pedestrian plaza and spilling into the playground on the other. A running track surrounds the activity area as it climbs to the top of a berm that was originally featured in the existing park. The pedestrian plaza offers rest and socializing opportunities and is paved with a rectilinear pattern in alternating shades of gray. This hardscape terraces up one side of the berm with a large stair feature. The playground benefits from all-new equipment, much of it also selected for the fitness and exercise opportunities they provided. The recreation area was also enhanced by a variety of other improvements including an irrigation system overhaul, new drinking fountain, upgrades to the park entrance, turf and erosion repairs and the replacement of old site furnishings around the site. One of the project’s gems turned out to be a new, modern park sign that many consider akin to public art.

Overall, the project has been well anticipated and received by neighborhood residents and the community at large-helping to set Frisco apart as a leader in parks and recreation design and implementation in the North Texas region.