Blackland Prairie Restoration Project Wins National Award

(June 13, 2025) Play Frisco has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Innovation in Environmental Resilience Award from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) for the ongoing Blackland Prairie Restoration and Education program. Receiving this national award is a tremendous achievement, reflecting the hard work and dedication of Play Frisco staff and volunteers.

"This project embodies both our mission - creating well-being through play - and our vision -play is essential regardless of age or ability," said Shannon Coates, Director of Play Frisco. "Through hands-on education, habitat restoration, and deep community engagement, we created meaningful experiences that inspire stewardship and celebrate our natural spaces."

Highlights from the ongoing project include:

• Buffalo Stomp, an annual event where individuals and families help plant native grasses and flowers with seedballs.
• The transformation of Monarch View Park. Volunteers and staff have planted over 1,000 native plants in the past 12 months.
• The launch of Blackland Prairie Day at the Frisco Heritage Center, connecting ecology and local history.
• Public programs, teacher workshops, scout involvement, and a museum exhibit focused on prairie conservation.

Play Frisco also strengthened key partnerships that made this success possible.

"The Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists enjoys a strong and collaborative partnership with Play Frisco's Natural Resources Division," said Rick Travis, President of the Blackland Prairie Chapter and member of Frisco's Natural Resources Advisory Board. "They support our guided nature walks, assist with restoration efforts, and invite our input when it comes to protecting sensitive land. Their support enhances our shared commitment to preserving and enriching Frisco's natural environment."

NRPA Innovation Awards recognize park and recreation agencies nationwide that have improved and strengthened their communities through innovative practices in park design, health and well-being, environmental resilience and equity. The Innovation in Environmental Resilience Award recognizes a park or recreation agency that is leading an innovative project or program that creates a localized solution for addressing global or regional environmental challenges.

About Play Frisco
Play Frisco helps residents and visitors find well-being through play. As the Parks and Recreation department for Frisco, Texas, Play Frisco provides quality parks, recreation, and cultural experiences for people of all ages and abilities so they can enjoy a happier, healthier life.