Meet Rick Moreno | President of McKinney Parks Foundation

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rick Moreno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rick, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
The McKinney Parks Foundation partners with the city of McKinney to enhance, develop and maintain parks and nature trails. We organize volunteers for workdays in the parks monthly. The work gives volunteers an opportunity to feel a part of the community. They can see the results of their efforts and know they’ve done good work for the community. Additionally the work we do enhances the sustainability and accessibility of natural spaces within our city.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was on the Citizens Advisory Board for the Parks Department for 3 years and learned a lot about parks management, development and funding. Another Board member and I began discussing forming a group to help maintain and develop nature trails. The McKinney Parks Foundation was formed in 2017. we now have stewardship of trails at Town Lake, McKinney Greens, Gray Branch, Bonnie Wenk and co-stewards with DORBA at Erwin Park. Last year we developed and opened the East McKinney Learning Garden which provides produce and herbs to various food insecurity agencies, and education about gardening and cooking. We have brought in over $200k in donations from private individuals and companies, and over $100k in MCDC Grants.
We are very proud of the impact the MPF has had on the quality of life in McKInney by enhancing open spaces, giving people an opportunity to give to the community, providing food in a food desert and teaching about environmental sustainability.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The downtown historic district in McKinney is a unique gem for shopping, entertainment and culture. There is much to do there! I also like showing visitors the trails and the East McKinney Learning Garden.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give a shoutout to the McKinney Parks Department, and especially Amy Kincaid, Director and Marty Silito, Parks Superintendent. They are dedicated to the parks and open spaces in McKinney and bring their skills to a very challenging job in a growing city.

Website: https://mckinneyparksfoundation.org