Wylie has exactly what you need to achieve the optimum work-life balance by offering quality public events and recreation for all people. Wylie prides ourselves on maintaining that small-town feel, but welcome new investment and new businesses into our wonderful community. Family-friendly activities and recreational opportunities include: hike and bike trails on the campus of the municipal complex, boating and swimming on nearby Lake Ray Hubbard or Lake Lavon, the award-winning festival Bluegrass on Ballard, the annual Chamber of Commerce Rodeo, the Wylie Arts Festival sponsored by the City of Wylie, the Downtown Merchants Association Pedal Car Race benefiting Special Olympics, and countless other events and opportunities to be involved in the community and engage with its culture.
Living in Wylie
Wylie is a vibrant, growing community located in Collin County, Texas. Just 24 miles northeast of Downtown Dallas, Wylie has easy access to all of the amenities offered by large metropolitan cities while managing to maintain much-sought-after small-town, family-friendly attributes anchored by superior schools and progressive leadership. In Wylie’s early days, its downtown area was a community gathering place on Saturday nights for those looking to hear some music, shop, and catch up on the latest news. As the Santa Fe Railroad infused the town with visitors and commerce, shop owners stayed open extra-late to accommodate the crowds, and thus the town’s nickname – "Wide-Awake Wylie" – was born. The community continues to expand on that family-friendly mentality and welcomes new business and residents that are eager to share the Wylie experience.
Inspiring Public Artwork
Wylie also supports the arts; city officials believe that accessible and appealing public artwork is as important to quality of life as roads, utilities and parks. Since 2006, the city has dedicated 1 percent of its capital improvement project fees to a public arts program. The funds are used to create artwork that enhances citizens’ experiences at municipal facilities, including the library, city hall, Public Safety Complex, many of the community parks and Fire Stations #3 & #4.
Safety is Key
While Wylie has been growing at a high rate, the city and its leadership has taken great strides to ensure a high quality of public safety for its residents and those in the surrounding communities. Despite a 6 percent increase in population, last year’s crime rate dropped 28 percent. Wylie has again been honored by safety education organization SafeWise; this year, it has been named the 20th safest city in Texas. Wylie Police Department engages in continual outreach activities to strengthen the relationship between the community and its officers. Wylie Fire Rescue maintains an ISO-1 Public Protection Classification Rating, the top rating by the Insurance Services Office, making homes and offices less expensive to insure. Only 138 municipalities hold a Class 1 rating, placing Wylie in the top 12 percent nationwide. Wylie Fire Rescue continues to train and add cutting-edge rescue techniques and equipment to its first-response arsenal.
Home Grown
Although it is just a short drive from Dallas/Fort Worth and just minutes from the larger suburbs of Plano, Frisco, and Richardson, Wylie maintains its own identity, embracing local activities and culture which separate it from the surrounding urban sprawl. Wylie is the perfect balance: a home town to which grown children return to raise their own, and a fiscally sound, forward-moving economic environment supporting existing commerce and encouraging new business development.
If you are looking for award-winning schools, abundant recreational activities, and a wide variety of housing, then Wylie has what you’re looking for. Perhaps you need some prime commercial space for your restaurant or maybe you want to be part of a Historic Downtown area to showcase your entrepreneurial spirit. Wylie has that as well. What if you need office space, a warehouse, or you want to build a new distribution center near the Kansas City Southern Logistics Park? Wylie is the place to be.