McKinney is taking a major step toward boosting local agriculture and community engagement. On Oct. 6, city leaders approved a license agreement with the Seed Project Foundation to create a nonprofit community farm on 62 acres at Gray Branch Parkland, land the city originally purchased in 2016.
The project, called McKinney Roots at Gray Branch Park, will blend farming, education and recreation, giving residents a new way to connect with both the land and each other.
About McKinney Roots
McKinney Roots is an initiative of the Seed Project Foundation that distributes fresh produce to area nonprofits and churches across Collin County. By expanding into Gray Branch Parkland, the program will gain a much larger footprint to grow food while also hosting year-round farming programs for children and adults.
Plans call for public park elements, educational programming, and recreational opportunities tied to agriculture. City officials and the Seed Project Foundation see it as a way to provide healthier food options while also teaching the community how farming plays a role in everyday life.
The Seed Project Foundation
The Seed Project Foundation is the driving force behind McKinney Roots. Its mission is simple but powerful: supply fresh, nutrient-dense food to those who need it. The foundation grows and distributes produce to local nonprofits and churches across Collin County, ensuring that food-insecure families have access to healthy meals.
Today, McKinney Roots grows more than 21 varieties of produce and maintains 340 laying hens, all through organic and natural practices. The farm currently operates on a five-acre site in West McKinney, where it utilizes two acres for field crops, an innovative chicken coop for rotational grazing and a hydroponic greenhouse that produces lettuce year-round. Beyond food production, the farm also serves as an educational hub, hosting McKinney ISD field trips and teaching residents about local agriculture…