Caddo Mills will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for City Lakes Park.
According to the Herald-Banner, residents are invited to attend the ceremony and celebrate the addition of the new outdoor spot.
City Lakes Park sits at 2301 County Road 2700.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s project registry describes the City Lake Park improvements as a roughly 20-acre project with a parking lot and walking trail, at an estimated cost of $600,000. The filing lists March 31, 2026, as the estimated completion date and shows the project’s inspection as complete. The state project record offers a snapshot of the park’s planned infrastructure beyond its ponds.
Nine Contractors Competed for the Build
In September, the Caddo Mills City Council awarded the Phase 1 construction contract to North Rock Construction following bidding that drew nine contractors, the Herald-Banner reported in earlier coverage of the award. The city's grant administration work was handled separately: Caddo Mills approved an $84,000 contract with Public Management in August 2025 for grant administrative services aimed at securing state funding for municipal park infrastructure, the paper's reporting shows.
Getting the ponds ready for fish wasn't simple or cheap. During a March city council meeting, officials noted that initial private proposals to dredge the two ponds came back unexpectedly high, with dirt hauling expenses eating up 70% to 80% of total quotes, according to city meeting documents.
A City Racing to Keep Pace With Growth
The park's arrival lands as Caddo Mills undergoes a dramatic transformation. U.S. Census Bureau estimates show the city grew from 1,495 residents in 2020 to roughly 5,715 by 2025. With a median household income of $107,067 and a median age of 33.5, Caddo Mills' young, fast-growing population has placed added pressure on city leaders to expand public recreation space.
Children make up a substantial share of the city’s population: 29.1% of Caddo Mills residents are under 18, the Census Bureau estimates. That demographic adds context to the demand for places families can use close to home as the community grows. Census Bureau figures also put the city’s 2025 population estimate at 5,715, up from 1,495 at the 2020 census.
City Lakes Park isn't the only park project underway. In January 2025, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission awarded Caddo Mills a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for Phase 2 developments at Hooten Park, the city's other major public park, funding an inclusive playground, sports fields, trails and a pavilion, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The Hooten Park award is part of a statewide program with obligations beyond construction: Texas Parks and Wildlife grants operate on a 50/50 reimbursement basis, and funded sites must remain parkland, be maintained and stay open to the public in perpetuity. The commission approved a record $30.9 million in local park grants in January 2025, including Caddo Mills’ $750,000 award. The grant program’s terms show the long-term responsibilities attached to that funding.
What Anglers Should Know Before Casting a Line
Families interested in fishing should keep state fishing rules in mind. Under Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regulations, anglers aged 17 and older must hold a valid Texas freshwater fishing license to fish at city-managed parks like City Lakes Park — a requirement that does not carry the exemptions sometimes available at state parks.
With the ribbon-cutting set for 11 a.m. on October 29, Caddo Mills residents will get their first official look at a park years in the making, built on a foundation of engineering studies, grant funding and a construction contract designed to keep pace with one of Hunt County's fastest-growing communities.
