Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How a $200 million surf park could reshape McKinney’s economy
Also check out Crain & Wooley: Free Estate Planning Webinar on the McKinney Patch calendar

Good day McKinney! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How a $200 million surf park could reshape McKinney’s economy
- McKinney student earns major Choctaw Nation scholarship support
- How will McKinney ISD’s school closures reshape local classrooms and neighborhoods?
Also on today's calendar: Crain & Wooley: Free Estate Planning Webinar and 9 more events.
Find out what's happening in McKinney-Friscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: Jimmy, did you crash on your bike again? You’ve lost a tooth! 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in McKinney-Friscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high of 42 and low of 26 degrees.
- Monday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 52, low: 38.
- Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 61 and low of 53 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. New $200 Million Wave Pool Coming to Texas (First Look) (surfer.com) — A $200 million surf park called Cannon Beach is set to break ground in McKinney, promising 700 jobs, 400,000 visitors a year, and a projected $2 billion economic impact over two decades. Planned to open in mid-2027, the wave pool aims to give residents a new recreation option while boosting nearby businesses with steady tourism traffic.
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2. Annual Choctaw Nation Gaming and Hospitality golf tournament raises more than $300,000 for scholarships (bryancountypatriot.com) — A McKinney student, Maddox Smith, is among 15 Choctaw Nation members awarded $10,000 scholarships supporting careers in gaming and hospitality. The funds come from a Carrollton golf tournament that raised over $319,000 for the Chahta Foundation, helping tribal members across several states pursue degrees in business, hospitality, and related fields.
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3. Parents Call Out ‘Sham' as More North Texas Schools Are Set to Close (dallasobserver.com) — McKinney ISD’s decision to close and repurpose three elementary schools by 2026–27 is part of a wider wave of school closures across North Texas driven by enrollment declines and budget shortfalls. The story explains how state funding limits and new school vouchers are pressuring districts, and what similar decisions in nearby communities could signal for McKinney families.
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4. Clara Honea (riverbender.com) — McKinney residents are connected to the life of Clara Belle Honea through her daughter-in-law, Janice Bailey Honea, who lives in the city. Clara, a 97-year-old Alabama native who later lived in Illinois and Tennessee, is remembered for her faith, joyful spirit, and lifelong devotion to family and service.
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📸 Around McKinney
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in McKinney
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Crain & Wooley: Free Estate Planning Webinar
Online,
12:00 pm
Wednesday December 17
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- ComedySportz - Dec 13
The Comedy Arena , 305 E Virginia St , McKinney
7:30 pm - KELLY WILLIS w/ special guest Ben Garcia - Shiner Sunday Series
Love & War in Texas , 601 E Plano Pkwy , Plano
4:00 pm - Holidays at the Heard
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary , 1 Nature Pl , McKinney
6:00 pm - Homeschool PE - OSRC
Old Settler's Recreation Center , 1201 E. Louisiana St. , McKinney
10:00 am - Country Afternoon Dance - SRC
Senior Recreation Center , 1400 S. College St. , McKinney
1:00 pm - Standing Tai-Chi Gung | Apex Centre
Apex Centre - McKinney TX 75069
2:00 pm - Beating Burnout: How to Avoid Emotional Exhaustion
Native McKinney , 207 N Tennessee St , McKinney
7:00 pm - Three Companees - Dec 18
The Comedy Arena , 305 E Virginia St , McKinney
7:00 pm - Transform your life with positive thinking
Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center , 13914 Josey Ln , Farmers Branch
7:30 pm - The Comedy Roast of Santa Claus
The Comedy Arena , 305 E Virginia St , McKinney
7:30 pm - SAM RIGGS w/ special guest Ghosts of Hill County
Love & War in Texas , 601 E Plano Pkwy , Plano
8:00 pm
Saturday December 13
Sunday December 14
Monday December 15
Tuesday December 16
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
📣 McKinney Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making McKinney PatchAM possible:
- PeakPower Learners — (469) 396-6182
The Power Of Two: Online Classes for Dual Language Students - Crain & Wooley — (972) 560-6288
Estate Planning and Probate Attorneys serving DFW
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Positive Public Education Post
This week, I got the privilege to spend a lot of time in our centralized programs and resource classrooms and wow! Vivid vocabulary was voraciously… (Nextdoor Eldorado Crossing) - UPDATE: We found him!!!
Has anyone seen our sweet dog? I don’t know how he got out but he is missing. Please contact me at (469) 235-7067 if you find him. (Nextdoor Woodberry Estates)
- Kroger posted a job opening for Grocery Clerk in Mckinney. Apply here.
- Whataburger posted a job opening for Restaurant Team Member, Weekend Shift - Unit 664 in Mckinney. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near McKinney here.
Ok McKinney! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I didn’t lose a tooth, Mom. It’s right here in my pocket.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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