Texas Park Land Sold for $10 Million to Make Way for Data Center

How a Donated Park Became a Data Center Site

According to НВ — Техно: A piece of land in Williamson County, Texas, originally intended for a public park, has been sold to a data center developer for $10 million in 2025. The nearly 36-hectare plot was initially gifted by the Bland family in 1999 to the Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation for just $10. Over the years, ownership transferred multiple times: first to another nonprofit in 2003, then to the city of Taylor a month later, and then to the Taylor Economic Development Corporation for $15,000 in 2008. Finally, in 2025, that corporation sold the land to Blueprint, a company planning to build a data center on the site.

Local residents are fighting to stop construction, arguing that the original donation agreement explicitly restricted the land's use to a park. A lawsuit they filed was dismissed, and the court has refused to halt work while the case is under appeal. This legal battle highlights the tension between preserving community green spaces and attracting commercial development in rapidly growing parts of Texas.

Community Concerns in Williamson County

Activists insist that the land's intended purpose should remain unchanged, regardless of ownership transfers. Pamela Griffin, one of the residents, stated that

“he wants to set aside the land for a park because children need a place to play.”

Meanwhile, Daniel Seguin pointed out that

“the current zoning of the plot already allows such use without additional approval from the city.”

The proposed data center could generate roughly $30 million in tax revenue over the next decade. Despite this potential economic benefit, the first legal challenge from residents was rejected by the court. The situation in Williamson County underscores the complex legal and ethical questions surrounding land-use changes. Local residents fear that commercial development will destroy a valuable green space for the community. While the judicial system has so far sided with the new owners, the debate over the land's purpose remains a pressing issue for urban development and community needs.