Since August 10, 2026, Erwin Park on County Road 1006 has been closed, and Visit McKinney lists it as closed for renovations through the summer of 2027. The City of McKinney's Erwin Park page says the whole park is closed for about a year, all trails included. Campsite and pavilion rentals are also unavailable for now.
For riders, Erwin held about 10 miles of mountain bike trails and a skills course, according to Community Impact. With Erwin closed, this fall's trail map splits in two. Walkers and runners still have good options in town, mostly along Wilson Creek and at the Heard. The off-road rides that DORBA lists nearby are all outside city limits.
Why the Whole Park Closed
The full closure was not the original plan. In June 2025, Community Impact reported that the city wanted to phase construction so the park would not have to close completely. At the time, the city expected the work to finish in late 2026 or early 2027. That plan has since been replaced by the full closure and the 2027 date.
According to the same report, the $10.5 million project covers improved restrooms, a new entrance feature, benches, better trails and a new overlook. Parks and Recreation Director Amy Kinkade said the overlook's top deck would let visitors see more than 35 miles.
The parks director gave the most detailed timeline so far at the McKinney Community Development Corporation meeting on August 27, 2026. She said construction had started and the city expected the closure to last roughly 12 to 14 months. Opening some sections near the end of that window is possible but not decided, and safety will be the first consideration. A board member asked what happens to trails left unridden for more than a year. Her answer was that Parks staff are working with DORBA and park maintenance crews to keep getting into the park and maintaining the trails, so they won't need to be reclaimed before reopening.
That means the trails at Erwin are still being maintained, even though riders can't use them.
Two Closures on the Same Calendar
Erwin is one of two big park projects running at once. Grady Littlejohn Sports Complex, at 1401 Wilson Creek Parkway, is closed for renovations until mid-2027, and its fields can't be rented. At the August meeting, the parks director said the city now groups that work under the name "Towne Lake Phase 1B." Phase 1A, a light park, was finished in December 2025. Phase 1C, the Bob and Barbara Thomas Dog Park and Play Zone, has been awarded, with construction expected to begin within about a month of that meeting.
| Site | Status | Expected through |
|---|---|---|
| Erwin Park, 4300 County Road 1006 | Fully closed, trails, campsites and pavilions included | Summer 2027, per Visit McKinney; 12 to 14 months from late August, per Parks |
| Grady Littlejohn Sports Complex, 1401 Wilson Creek Parkway | Closed for renovation, fields unavailable to rent | Mid-2027 |
| Towne Lake Park, 1405 Wilson Creek Parkway | City page lists hours and trails | No closure listed on the park page |
| Bob and Barbara Thomas Dog Park and Play Zone | Contract awarded | Construction start expected this fall |
The Grady Littlejohn page lists Towne Lake Park and the Wilson Creek Trail as associated facilities. It does not say Towne Lake is closed. Expect construction activity next door for most of the coming year. Neither Erwin date is a confirmed reopening, so treat both as estimates and check the city's park pages before you plan around them.
Where the Walking Miles Are Now
For anyone who used Erwin for long walks or trail runs rather than riding, the Wilson Creek corridor is the closest substitute.
Towne Lake Park, 1405 Wilson Creek Parkway. The city lists a 1.1-mile loop around the park and a connector to the 5.3-mile Wilson Creek Trail. Posted hours are 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Few parks in McKinney let you start a long route this early or end it this late.
Bonnie Wenk Park, 2996 Virginia Parkway. This park also sits on Wilson Creek, with a one-mile stretch of the Wilson Creek Trail inside it. It also has a 0.39-mile pond loop and a one-mile outer loop, and the same 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. hours. You can stack the pond loop and outer loop for a quick lunchtime route, or join the creek trail for something longer.
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Pl. The Heard has 6.5 miles of hiking trails, which makes it the closest match in town to Erwin's wooded feel. You need general admission or a membership to use them. It also keeps tighter hours than a city park: Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., last entry at 4 p.m., and normally closed Mondays. It doesn't work for dawn runs, but it fits a Saturday morning.
The Heard also has two evening events this week. Fright at the Museum, for adults, runs October 16 from 6 to 10 p.m. The family-friendly Halloween at the Heard follows on October 17, also from 6 to 10 p.m.
Where the Dirt Riding Goes
Mountain biking is the hard part. Erwin's 10 miles of mountain bike trails and its skills course were the off-road riding in McKinney. The trails DORBA lists nearby all require a drive.
Sister Grove Park, on Lake Lavon. Collin County describes it as a 75-acre primitive park for hiking and off-road cycling, between Princeton and Farmersville, with trails maintained by DORBA. It's open sunrise to sundown, and the trail closes when wet. The county page lists no mileage or street address, so look up the trailhead before you go. Of the three, it's the closest in character to Erwin, with a primitive trail that DORBA also maintains.
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, Plano. DORBA's trail directory includes the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve Off Road Bike Trail. Riders heading south of McKinney will probably find it the easiest to reach.
Harry Moss Park, Dallas. DORBA calls Harry Moss beginner-friendly. That makes it a good pick for newer riders, or for kids who were learning on Erwin's skills course.
All three are affected by fall rain, which in North Texas can close trails without much warning. DORBA closes trails when muddy soil would be damaged by tires and feet and erosion becomes a risk. Its trail directory links to a trail-status app for iOS and Android. On the week of October 12, the directory showed status updates for Arbor Hills on October 8, Harry Moss on October 9 and Sister Grove on October 10, so the listings are being updated. Check the app before you load the bike, because every one of these trailheads is a drive from McKinney.
A Fall Week Without Erwin
Here's one way to cover the whole week:
- Weekday mornings: Towne Lake's 1.1-mile loop, or the pond and outer loops at Bonnie Wenk, both open from 5:30 a.m.
- Longer weekday run: Start at Towne Lake and take the connector onto the 5.3-mile Wilson Creek Trail.
- Saturday morning: The Heard's 6.5 miles of trails, which open at 9 a.m.
- Dry weekend afternoon: Check the DORBA app, then ride Sister Grove, Arbor Hills or Harry Moss.
- This Friday or Saturday night: Fright at the Museum or Halloween at the Heard.
When Erwin reopens, residents should get back the 10 miles of trails DORBA and the city say they are keeping up, plus better restrooms, a new entrance and an overlook with a view of more than 35 miles. For updates in the meantime, the city's Erwin Park page points visitors to its Park Projects page.
At Ritz Group, we watch McKinney's park projects closely because they shape everyday life for the people we work with. If you'd like to know what's changing near a particular part of McKinney, whether that's Towne Lake, Erwin or somewhere else, please reach out. We're happy to share what we're following.
