Texas City Sells 87-Acre Park Donation for $10 Million Data Center Deal

*A farmer gave land to create public green space in 1999. Local officials chose cash from a developer instead.*

A small Texas city sold 87 acres that a farmer donated for a park in 1999. The buyer is a data center developer that paid $10 million.

The transaction replaces the intended public park with industrial construction. City records show the land changed hands directly from municipal ownership to the developer.

The original gift carried an explicit purpose. The farmer transferred the property with the understanding it would serve as open space for residents. No park was ever built.

Data center projects now compete for the same parcels once reserved for civic use. The $10 million price reflects current demand for sites with power access and fiber routes rather than recreational value.

Local governments face recurring offers from infrastructure firms that outbid any park budget. This sale shows how those offers can override prior commitments made decades earlier.

The land will host server halls and cooling systems instead of trails or playing fields. Residents who expected the donation to remain public space now confront fenced industrial property.

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Sources:

• Hacker News (front page)
• 404 Media

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