As you drive through McKinney, you might notice an abundance of Crape Myrte trees.  

Steve Brainerd, McKinney Parks Development Superintendent, oversees the city’s plantings. “I think the crape myrtle concept has found favor and we’re going to go forward with this. But I don’t know how long it will take to complete the trails. I think it’s been very well received and the plant material is excellent for what we’re asking it to do. They like hot weather and you can take away the water supply for this plant and it will survive, if you have water rationing, for example. I totally am in support of the concept here and I think the council is as well.”

City leaders aren’t alone. “The community loves this project. They want to get more involved and they want to know how to get more involved,” says Susan Owens, Executive Director of the Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney Foundation.

The foundation was formed in 1998. The driving force behind the ongoing beautification effort is Neil Sperry, former Dallas County Agriculture Extension Agent best known today for dispensing horticulture advice through his radio show, broadcast on KRLD and the more than 60 radio stations that are part of the Texas State Network.

Sperry describes the foundation’s goal, “We are establishing ‘The World Collection’ of Crape Myrtles in the public areas of the city of McKinney. This collection does not exist anywhere else in the world.”