Van Alstyne Charm

Forrest Moore Park is our most south park in Van Alstyne located just off Hwy 5 near the Georgetown neighborhood.  This is one of the City of Van Alstyne’s most used parks and includes ballfields, basketball, tennis & pickleball courts, pavilions & picnic tables, playgrounds and walking trails.

With this long list of ammenities, this is a very highly trafficed park on a daily basis for Van Alstyne. Forrest Moore Park is also used by many sports organizations that bring out not only Van Alstyne residents, but surrounding communities as well.  For some people, this will be their first reason to visit Van Alstyne. With this high use, over time the parking lot and the sign for the park “needed attention and repairs to ensure quality of use for our residents,” said David Sileven, President of the Van Alstyne Community Development Corporation. He said “the condition of the park reflects upon our city and we wanted to ensure that we are sending a positive message of how our community cares for the assets that we manage and reflect a positive image of Van Alstyne.”

Van Alstyne Parks & Recreation, with the assistance of the CDC, repaved and restriped the parking lot which not only looks so much nicer, but provides a far better experience for all visitors when the parking lot is being heavily used on sports days.  The marquee sign in front of the park is also being rebuilt to better represent the park as well.

“The vote by the board was unanimous to direct the funds to assist our Parks Department and we are eager to see the results when the work is completed,” said David Sileven.

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

Marshall Street is a picturesque street in our historic downtown that is lined with shops, restaurants, studios and more. On this soon to be renovated street, you’ll find Pique Boutique who was the first to jump on the opportunity by our CDC to offer their billboard to local businesses. Founded by Mandy and Donald Bacco in 2022, Pique Boutique is the result of Mandy’s passion for fashion and their shared desire to provide an exceptional boutique experience in Van Alstyne. You’ll find women’s and girl’s clothing and accessories including bags, shoes and jewelry, all of which are individually selected by Mandy. Mandy says, “we believe that fashion is a means of self-expresssion” and that the day is just better when you like what you’re wearing.

Pique Boutique also offers a loyalty program called Pique Perks that allows customers to earn 1 point for every dollar spent, and each 150 points is $10 off a future purchase. Follow Pique on your preferred social platform and stay up to date on the new items and events or visit their website at www.mypiqueboutique.com to shop their current items today.

Address: 245 E. Marshall St., Van Alstyne, TX 75495

Hours of Operation: Mon – Sat 10:00 – 6:00 Sunday 12:00 – 4:00

Facebook: Pique Boutique
IG: @mypiqueboutique
TikTok: @pique_boutique

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

McKinney Wilson Park is one of the most beautiful of our 5 parks.  Located less than a mile east of downtown Van Alstyne on Jefferson St. this park has beautifully maintained green space and old growth shade trees, making it a perfect spot to enjoy being outside throughout the year. Some of the amenities of the park include a large playground that a wide age range of kids can enjoy, the open green space, 2 softball fields with a concession stand and public restrooms, and now a brand new gazebo.

The old gazebo had served the community for many years and had seen better days.  The city decided it was time for an upgrade and has replaced the gazebo with a 20′ x 23’ pavilion that will serve park goers for years to come. In addition to this gazebo, there are multiple picnic tables to utilize as well.

Use rec desk to reserve this brand new gazebo for your next gathering, or swing by to have lunch and enjoy one of our beautiful parks this Spring.

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

Van Alstyne ISD is at the top of the list of why so many move to Van Alstyne. The Texas Education Agency has given VAISD an A rating and it is clear to see why.

The mission of VAISD is to “be a premier school district providing a well-rounded, safe school experience that prepares our graduates to discover and attain their life goals.” This is seen throughout the school district on a multitude of levels.  Not only to students score significantly higher than the state average on most STAAR exams, as well as on the SAT and ACT exams, Van Alstyne students have the ability to choose between AP courses or dual credit courses, and can currently acquire 32 college credits from courses offered by college professors on campus during the school day. In partnership with Grayson County College, students are also able to acquire career certifications in welding, cosmetology, HVAC and OSHA. Van Alstyne High School also has a dual credit culinary certification program offered in their culinary kitchen.

The safety and health of students has been a clear priority of the school district. Each of the 4, soon to be 5 with the addition of the new high school, campuses have their own full time nurse, counselor and VAISD police officer. The school district currently serves over 2,400 students and that number is expected to grow rapidly in the years to come. The new high school will open for the 2024-2025 school year but that will not add a second high school to Van Alstyne. Instead, it will replace the current high school which will house 7th & 8th and the middle school will be 5th & 6th.  Currently Van Alstyne has 2 elementary schools, Sanford Elementary which is for residents north of 121 and Partin Elementary which is for residents south of 121.  More elementary schools will be added in the near future as larger residential developments are established that include elementary schools as well, starting with one in Mantua Point.

The Van Alstyne ISD has always been a big highlight of our community and having a District of Innovation plan is one of the attractive aspects.  Per the VAISD website:

“Districts who decide to pursue a District of Innovation plan are able to analyze specific innovations in curriculum, instruction, governance, parent or community involvement, school calendar, budgeting, or other ideas. An innovation plan also allows a school district to gain exemption from many Texas Education Code requirements. Essentially, an innovation plan allows for schools and communities to have local control on the best ways to educate their children.”

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

Van Alstyne’s brand new high school is nearing completion.  Located just south of Grayson College South Campus on Collin Mckinney Pkwy and opening August 2024 for the next academic year, this new school will replace the existing high school which will be become the jr. high and host 7th grade and 8th grade.  The Van Alstyne Middle School will host 5th and 6th.  While this is definitely a sign of growth coming to Van Alstyne, our community will remain a one high school town for many years to come. During the extensive research during the planning process of expansion for our ISD, leaders were advised to have  one high school or at least three. This minimizes competition and comparison within the community per the advise of towns ahead of Van Alstyne’s growth cycle.  The new high school is expected to host 1,000 students and with planned future additions will be able to increase that capacity to 2,800 students.

With this architecturally beautiful, larger school, many more offerings for our students will be on the horizon including adding more sports to the athletic department and much more.

For updates on the construction process monthly, check out the progress page for the project here and for an interactive rendering of the high school, check out this YouTube video by the architects.

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

Van Alstyne has a long, vibrant history and we are blessed to have that history well documented, and well preserved. We have the Van Alstyne Historical Museum, which moved to its new, beautifully appropriate location at at 130 N Waco St., we also have the Van Alstyne Historical Society, and the Van Alstyne Cemetery Association.  The local Grayson College South Campus also holds monthly lectures, which regularly hosts Dusty Williams, who is highly involved in every single one of these organizations.   These organizations are a wealth of interesting information about Van Alstyne and our region!

Also, did you know there are 9 state historical markers in Van Alstyne city limits:
Van Alstyne City #020 (Dorothy Fielder Park, on Van Alstyne Parkway and N. Main St.):
Boy Scout Troop 1 (Troop 44) #029.1: (300 5th Ave.)
Collin McKinney #021: (Van Alstyne Cemetery – see below)
First United Methodist Church #023 (Located at Preston and Fulton streets) dedicated in 1917.
Mantua Masonic Lodge #209 A.F. and A.M. marker #024 (201 N. Waco)
Umphress-Taylor Home #025 (109 E. Paris). Queen Anne and Classical Revival home built in 1903.
Barron-Veazey Home #025 (104 Umphress) Prairie-influenced home built in 1905.
Site of Campus of Old Columbia College #027 (203 S. College)
First Christian Church #022 organized on this site in 1877

To get involved, you can visit the museum, join or donate to the historical societies, attend a Grayson College lecture, or even just attend one of our City Council meetings on the second Tuesday of every month at City Hall at 6:30 where many important details about he past, and the future, are shared.

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

The long awaited Bill Smith’s cafe is now open! Most Van Alstynians seem to have visited the cafe at least once already, but if you haven’t had a change, it’s probably because of the anticipated wait times. Well I’m happy to report, there are plenty of times, typically 10:30am and earlier, that you can walk right in with no wait.

If you are unfamiliar with Bill Smith’s and the allure for this casual breakfast spot, you must not be from around these parts.  In all seriousness, Bill Smith’s Cafe holds a permanent spot in many of our hearts who grew up in North Texas. Bill Smith’s Cafe opened in 1956 in Mckinney, TX and from that day on it was a pillar in the community. It has always been family owned and operated and Bill Smith Jr. took over 30 years ago. Long waits every weekend for the crowds of people who wanted some good ol’ country breakfast food.  It became tradition, or some may even say routine, for many of us and we were all heartbroken when they closed their doors in 2023.  Thankfully that didn’t last long! After moving to Van Alstyne, it was not too long later that Bill Smith Jr. and the Van Alstyne Community Development Corporation (CDC)  collaborated to reopen Bill Smith’s Cafe in our historic downtown.

Located at 233 E Jefferson St in Van Alstyne, the cafe is currently open from 5am-2pm every day except Sunday when they close at 1 and Tuesday when they are closed all day.  Those hours are likely to change.

We invite you to visit this wonderful cafe and explore our whole downtown!

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

Road repair has and probably always will be a hot topic for local communities and Van Alstyne is definitely no exception. We’ve seen that it hasn’t been clear the proper way to report these pot holes and needed road repair. Despite popular opinion, it isn’t Facebook! 😱

In an attempt to not only make it easy to report concerns and get the repairs completed, I’m sharing a map below that the Public Works Department put together to notate which roads belong to which jurisdiction.  There are 4 entities with road ownership in Van Alstyne, City of Van Alstyne, Grayson County, Texas Department of Transportation and a MUD district in Mantua.

For City of Van Alstyne roads, contact 903-482-5426 or fill out the email contact form on our website here.

For Grayson County roads, contact your Grayson County Commissioner. Most of Van Alstyne lies in Precinct No. 1 and you can call (903) 813-4327 or check out the Grayson county website to confirm your commissioner and contact information.

TxDOT has a form on their website here to report road issues, or for immediate attention, call 800-558-9368.

City Council meetings are also a great resource for information on the planned road work as well as opportunity for public comment. These meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at City Hall at 6:30pm.

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

Van Alstyne has an incredible Parks and Recreation Department that we are truly proud of! With 5 beautiful parks to choose from, and a new one on the way, there are currently 19 facilities that can be reserved. These facilities range from the pavilions and stage in the Central Social District downtown to the sports fields at McKinney Wilson or Forest Moore Park. Whether having a birthday party or other major celebration, a sports tournament or a stage performance, Van Alstyne has a facility for your needs. Van Alstyne Parks and Recreation has also started using RecDesk to make reserving these facilities even easier for all community members.

On our RecDesk site, you can click Help in the menu for step by step instructions on setting up and account and reserving a facility. On the Facilities page, you can explore each park facility and their calendar, maps, addresses and hours.

If you have any questions about the parks or the facilities, reach out to the Director of Parks and Recreation, Tyler Bark, at 903-482-5426 ext. 2173 or tbark@cityofvanalstyne.us. And for questions on any of the amazing events in Van Alstyne, reach out to Kandi Hessel, 430-262-9439 or khessel@cityofvanalstyne.us.

Van Alstyne parks and facilities include:

Central Social District Park
West Pavilion
• Refundable Deposit 50.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (in city resident) 40.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (out of city resident) 80.00
Main Stage
• Refundable Deposit 50.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (in city resident) 40.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (out of city resident) 80.00
East Pavilion (Farmers Market Area)
• Refundable Deposit 50.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (in city resident) 40.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (out of city resident) 80.00

Dorothy Fielder Park
Gazebo
• Refundable Deposit 50.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (in city resident) 40.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (out of city resident) 80.00

COMING SOON: Eula Umphress and Robert Hynds Park
Pavilion
• Refundable Deposit 50.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (in city resident) 40.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (out of city resident) 80.00

Community Center
• Refundable Deposit 150.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (in city resident) 100.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (out of city resident) 150.00

McKinney Wilson Park
East Field (Big Field)
• Refundable tournament deposit 250.00
• Practice Field Rate, with or without lights, per hour (in city resident) 15.00
• Practice Field Rate, with or without lights, per hour (out of city resident) 25.00
• Tournament Rate with or without lights, per team, per day 50.00
• Field marking, per day 50.00
• Maintenance staff fee, per person, per hour 50.00
West Field (Little Field)
• Refundable tournament deposit 250.00
• Practice Field Rate, with or without lights, per hour (in city resident) 15.00
• Practice Field Rate, with or without lights, per hour (out of city resident) 25.00
• Tournament Rate with or without lights, per team, per day 50.00
• Field marking, per day 50.00
• Maintenance staff fee, per person, per hour 50.00

Forrest Moore Park
North Field
• Refundable tournament deposit 250.00
• Practice Field Rate, with or without lights, per hour (in city resident) 15.00
• Practice Field Rate, with or without lights, per hour (out of city resident) 25.00
• Tournament Rate with or without lights, per team, per day 50.00
• Field marking, per day 50.00
• Maintenance staff fee, per person, per hour 50.00
South Field
• Refundable tournament deposit 250.00
• Practice Field Rate, with or without lights, per hour (in city resident) 15.00
• Practice Field Rate, with or without lights, per hour (out of city resident) 25.00
• Tournament Rate with or without lights, per team, per day 50.00
• Field marking, per day 50.00
• Maintenance staff fee, per person, per hour 50.00
Pavilion
• Refundable Deposit 50.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (in city resident) 40.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (out of city resident) 80.00

Veteran’s Memorial Park (North Park)
Field
• Refundable tournament deposit 250.00
• Practice Field Rate, with or without lights, per hour (in city resident) 15.00
• Practice Field Rate, with or without lights, per hour (out of city resident) 25.00
• Tournament Rate with or without lights, per team, per day 50.00
• Field marking, per day 50.00
• Maintenance staff fee, per person, per hour 50.00
Pavilion
• Refundable Deposit 50.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (in city resident) 40.00
• Rental Fee for 4 (four) hour block (out of city resident) 80.00

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088