Willow Bend – Plano, Texas
An established community on the west end of Plano, Willow Bend offers sophisticated living with the conveniences of an urban city. The nearby Shops at Willow Bend, excellent dining options, and the Gleneagles Country Club are popular haunts for neighborhood residents.
Considered one of the best neighborhoods in Dallas-Fort Worth. It’s an affluent neighborhood surrounded by great shopping, restaurants, and, of course, West Plano Schools. It encompasses two Gleneagles Golf Courses, the Queens and Kings courses. The neighborhood is ranked as the second best (based on factors like safety, maintenance, and ease of commute) for wealthy buyers in Plano, Murphy, and Wylie, according to a 2013 analysis by the Dallas Morning News.
Things to do in Willow Bend
- The Shops at Willow Bend: Known as the Willow Bend Mall, this shopping center features over 125 stores and is a popular place for retail therapy. Some of the top retailers include Neiman Marcus, Crate and Barrel, and Dillard’s.
- Crayola Experience Plano: A cool place to bring the kids, this attraction is a hands-on experience that blends creativity and technology in a new way. Your children will be creating both art and memories.
- Windhaven Park: An awesome neighborhood hangout and park that includes a public pool, playground, picnic tables, and recreation center. The pool features a lazy river and water slides which makes it a hot spot in the summer months.
- Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve: Located on 800 acres of land, this city park is the largest park in all of Plano, Texas. Featuring miles of walking and biking trails, kayaking on the lake, and an outdoor amphitheater for concerts, this is a great place to spend time outside in nature.
Schools
It is not surprising to note that places with highly-rated public schools tend to have relatively higher home prices because of the perpetual demand for those neighborhoods. If you have children or plan on having them in the future, checking out the nearby schools and their ratings is a good idea. Hightower Elementary School, Centennial Elementary School, and Daffron Elementary School are among 4 A+/A rated public elementary schools in the district. Robinson Middle School, Renner Middle School, and Frankford Middle School are among the middle schools in the district. Plano West Senior High School, Jasper High School, and Plano ISD Academy High School are among 4 A+/A rated public high schools in the district.
Shopping and Dining
Located west of Preston Road, between Park Boulevard and Parker Road, the neighborhood provides convenient access to an array of retail and dining options. Just across the Tollway, The Shops at Willow Bend brims with high-end stores like Restoration Hardware and Neiman Marcus. Lakeside Market houses upscale shops, restaurants, and salons while Preston Park Village includes favorites like Williams Sonoma, Talbots, and White House Black Market. Upscale grocers Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s are nearby, and a short car ride away, The Shops at Legacy features fashionable boutiques and eateries.