The City of Denton is dabbling in a bit of green space procurement, having snapped up a 2.25-acre parcel of land intended to morph into a neighborhood park. This latest acquisition sits at 526 Hercules Lane in the northern stretches of the city and, for the moment, it's adorned with a smattering of trees and an expanse of open space for locals to enjoy, according to the City of Denton.
This land, bought from a church that lays claim to the surrounding property, fits into a grander scheme, a plan that involves ensuring every Dentonite can stride out their door and find themselves sauntering in a park within a mere 10 minutes. The city forked over the funds for this purchase via park dedication and development fees, a sort of environmental impact tax levied on developers.
Boasting numbers that are nothing to scoff at, the Denton Parks and Recreation Department has gobbled up over 373 acres for public park use in the past couple of years. This particular plot will serve around 1,200 residents who've been bereft of a nearby park until now. The aim is lofty: a cent-percent coverage where every resident will have a park, trail, or open space within that magic 10-minute walking bubble.
