In 2008, Margaret M. McDermott determined that 104.8511 acres of her land would be held in the Margaret M. McDermott Revocable Trust, to eventually be conveyed to the City of Allen upon her passing and dedicated as a public park to be known as "The Eugene McDermott Park." This land consists primarily of floodplain, woods, and meadow along Rowlett Creek and between McDermott Drive and Alma Drive.
In 2018, Mrs. McDermott granted a conservation easement on the property to the Connemara Conservancy Foundation to ensure that the Property's open space character and scenic qualities are forever enjoyed by the general public.
To provide for perpetual care of the park, Mrs. McDermott determined to establish an endowment to be managed under the stewardship of the non-profit Allen Parks Foundation, expressly for the perpetual maintenance of the park in accordance with her specifications, using income from the investment of the endowment fund for that maintenance. In December 2018, the Margaret M. McDermott Revocable Trust issued a check to the Allen Parks Foundation in the amount of $1,000,000 for the park maintenance.
With the recent passing of Mrs. McDermott, the Trust is now prepared to complete the gift of the property to the City. City staff, working with the City Attorney, have reviewed the proposed deed for the property and the other gift documents and recommend they be formally accepted by the City as presented.