Wylie’s story began during the “Golden Age” of railroading, an era that lasted from about the 1880s to the 1920s and changed the economic climate of the country. Although some U.S. citizens were troubled by trains – one Ohio school board claimed them to be “a device of the devil” and that travel by train would cause a “concussion of the brain” – no one could argue with the efficient manner in which rail transported goods.

Before there was Wylie, there was a small town called Nickelville. Some say it was so named because a nickel store was located there, and some say a local townsperson joked that no one who lived there “was worth a plug nickel.” In 1885, word spread through Nickelville and neighboring communities that the Santa Fe train tracks were fast approaching, bringing prosperity along for the ride.

After a number of surveys were made, however, railroad right-of-way engineers decided to lay track to the north of Nickelville. The agent and engineer in charge was Col. W.D. Wylie, from Paris, Texas, and legend has it that he was anxious to have a town named after him. The colonel promised he would do great things for this fledgling town if it bore his name, including, some say, buying new baseball uniforms for the local team. Who could resist a campaign promise of that magnitude? Dr. John Butler, Nickelville’s earliest settler, submitted Wylie’s name to the town leaders, and, when the application for the new post office was received June 10, 1886, the name became official. Col. Wylie purchased 100 acres of land and began dividing it into city lots. Wylie was incorporated in November 1887 along the railroad right-of-way.

The first Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway train rolled into Wylie on Oct. 13, 1886, with Dallas dignitaries on board. A brass band played, welcoming speeches were given, and everyone was invited to have a free drink when complimentary kegs of beer rolled off the train.

Col. Wylie had planned for the auction of his lots to coincide with the arrival of the train. Bidding was brisk among the locals and visitors from Dallas; whether the free beer had anything to do with the sales cannot be proven. The first lot sold for $150 with Wylie soon realizing approximately $8,000 to $10,000 in profits from the sale – or so the story goes. The following year, the St. Louis and Southwestern (Cotton Belt) rail line arrived in Wylie from Greenville.

Wylie’s agriculture roots were also taking hold, and, by the mid-1910s, shipping by rail was becoming more and more profitable. Hogs were shipped weekly as well as produce. Cotton was the leading crop and was known as “king.” Schools were scheduled around the growing season so children could help out in the fields. Laborers came to town for cotton baling work, often sleeping on the open platforms near the downtown cotton gins. King Cotton shared the throne with the onion. Until the early 1960s, Wylie was known as the “Onion Capital of the World,” and an onion shed could be found by the Santa Fe tracks. Wylie became famous for the sweet white onions grown here. Migrant workers came to town and, during onion topping season (when the above-ground, green part of the onions died and fell over, signifying it was time to harvest them and remove that leafy portion), washed the onions in big tanks downtown before shipping them off to market..

The City of Wylie, in partnership with other local organizations, hosts a variety of family-friendly community events all year, many of which take place in historic downtown Wylie. Money Magazine recently named Wylie the 20th Best Place to Live in America, and editors cited these celebrations as part of what makes Wylie special.

Annually, the City of Wylie Parks and Recreation Department sparks connections to self, family, and community for more than 2.5 million visitors including children, pre-teens, teens, adults, and seniors. This connection crosses social and economic barriers, supporting an enhanced quality of life, economy, and the overall well-being of Wylie and surrounding communities. Because a strong sense of community is important to our guests, Wylie Parks and Recreation provides opportunities that support social interaction, friendship, and teamwork. High-quality offerings, e.g. specialized summer camps, clean workout spaces, and close access to parks and green space rank high on guests' lists.

The facilities, places, equipment, and tangible assets are just tools we use to support the mission. We are in the business of helping our guests solve problems, e.g. improving health, building friendships, enhancing skills, and experiencing something new or different.

The community plays at 19 playgrounds, 24 soccer, baseball, and softball fields, and enjoys 17.8 miles of trail. Our athletic fields host 20,000 guests each year. Pavilions and other amenities accommodate birthday parties, family reunions, and more. Additionally, public art is a priority, and right-of-ways are manicured to visually link the community. Due to increased demand and need, Wylie has added 5 parks over the last 6 years.

At the heart of the community, Wylie Recreation Center supports the health and well-being of more than 405,000 guests, annually. Being the City’s first and only recreation center in Wylie, the concept of community recreation was new to Wylie, when Wylie Recreation Center opened in 2011.

Located in Wylie's Community Park, the Senior Recreation Center connects more than 90,000 guests to fun, friendship, and fitness, each year. The Wylie Parks and Recreation Department also supports the operations of two historic homes, including the Thomas and Mattie Brown House in Historic, Downtown Wylie.

Wylie Parks and Recreation is known for employing friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable parks and recreation staff that provide exceptional service. Wylie Parks and Recreation supports the community's job market by providing more than 100 jobs. 70% of the jobs in the department are classified as part-time and part-time seasonal positions. To stay on top of trends and support excellent quality and delivery of services, the parks and recreation staff participate in numerous professional development and certificate programs. Wylie Parks and Recreation has received a number of awards and recognition from a variety of professional organizations for outstanding staff, programs, and facilities.

Daily operations account for the majority of the department's resources: money, people, and energy. Daily operations encompass front-line tasks and duties that guests are most aware of. This includes everything from the staff that check-in guests at Wylie Recreation Center’s front desk to the greenery and staff that enhance the landscaping in the medians on highway 78.

The Activity Menu generates the vast majority of the activity registrations, pass sales, and reservation bookings. The catalog, averaging 40 pages each season, is distributed four times each year: winter, spring, summer, and fall. A special summer camp catalog is distributed at the same time as the spring catalog. The summer camp catalog includes more than 100 summer camp offerings.

Wylie Parks and Recreation's primary focus is on mission-driven, mostly no-charge and low-charge offerings that benefit the community. To help offset some of the expenses of the mission, the department generates some user-driven fees. User fees are charged on Rec Passes, registered activities like art classes and fitness programs, and facility reservations.

The majority of Parks operations are funded by property tax, through the General Fund, and a small amount of funding comes from sales tax revenue. The Parks budget amounts to 5.5% of the City's General Fund.

Funding of operations at Wylie Recreation Center, Senior Recreation Center, the Thomas and Mattie Brown House, and Stonehaven House, in addition to all of the programs offered to guests, comes from 2 sources: 1. sales tax revenue, which covers 70% of expenses and 2. user fees. Operating the Recreation Division has no impact on the General Fund or the tax rate.

Wylie Parks and Recreation programs are "the place to be" for a lot of people and the number of participants continues to grow. It is critical that we nurture what Wylie has already invested in and match the demand for park and recreation opportunities in our community.

Wylie Parks and Recreation is focused on the future and has an ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of life.

It is our mission to spark a connection with self, family, and community through meaningful park and recreation experiences, and we want to be known for setting the standard for connection, service, and quality in parks and recreation.