In three months, Kaleidoscope Park in Frisco will open to the public, offering six acres of green space designed for relaxation, work, and recreation. A standout feature is “Butterfly Rest Stop,” a large hanging sculpture at the park’s north end, crafted by renowned sculpture and fabric artist Janet Echelman.
Weighing 3,423 pounds, the sculpture consists of 791,788 hand-tied knots and is likely the largest outdoor art piece in North Texas. Inspired by the local Monarch Butterfly migration, the sculpture will be complemented by Milkweed plantings underneath, fostering a pollinator corridor.
Janet Echelman shared her inspiration, stating, “It’s meaningful to me to sculpt this new public park for North Texas. When I learned about the Monarch butterflies’ migration through the area each October, I wanted to plant milkweed below to help sustain the pollinator corridor and suspend my first flower-inspired sculptures in the sky.”
Installation involved crews using lifts for about a week to secure the fabric net to several 65-foot pylons, using twine that spans nearly 90 miles. The material, akin to that used in the Mars rover, ensures durability against winds exceeding 100 mph.
The sculpture will be illuminated at night and will change colors throughout the day based on sunlight angles. “We’ve seen it transition from pink to yellow within hours,” remarked Shawn Jackson, executive director of Kaleidoscope Park, emphasizing the artwork’s dynamic visual appeal.
The $38 million park project, featuring amenities like walkways, playgrounds, Wi-Fi, a dog park, fitness areas, interactive water fountains, and performance spaces, is a collaboration between public and private sectors. The city of Frisco contributed $15 million, with the remainder funded by donations and construction funds provided by Kathryn and Craig Hall.
