The Painted Tree Games

Oxland Group | Mckinney, Texas

Neighborhood Game Case Study:

The Painted Tree Games is a custom Neighborhood Game created for the Painted Tree community in McKinney, Texas.

Designed specifically for this master-planned community, the game augments the development’s investment in public space, amenities, and lifestyle programming by creating playful, shared experiences residents can return to again and again.

It’s one example of how a Neighborhood Game can be designed to fit the culture, landscape, and social goals of a community.

What Is a Neighborhood Game?

We blend our expertise in narrative, gameplay, and spatial design to create Neighborhood Games that are rooted in place, made for all ages to play, and created to spark connection and belonging.

How it started at Painted Tree

The Painted Tree Games began with an on-site workshop.

It quickly became clear that the trail network - and the community’s strong connection to nature - should be the backbone of the game.

That insight guided early decisions around:

  • Where play should happen

  • What kinds of games felt appropriate

  • A material palette and tone that fit the natural setting

The First Location

The first place to play the Painted Tree Games was designed to add social value to the community’s trail network — turning a highly visible floodplain area along the trails into a destination for play, gathering, and shared activity.

The space was designed to:

  • Support multiple game types

  • Invite participation across ages

  • Feel casual, flexible, and repeatable

As the first location, it anchors the Neighborhood Game while remaining open-ended and adaptable over time.

  • Volleyball

  • Soccer

  • Track

  • Backyard Cricket

  • Wiffleball

  • Over The Line

  • Rock Garden Bowling

An alien holding a beer says, 'Hold my beer,' while three humans cheer and one of them says, 'We want more joy in our communities! To boost our wellness!'

Want to explore what a Neighborhood Game could look like in your community?

See What’s Possible

Three Paths to a Neighborhood Game for Your Community

A city park with a pond, surrounded by trees and residential buildings. An inset shows people exercising on outdoor gym equipment.

Pilot Location

Illustration of a neighborhood with various outdoor recreational areas, including a playground, a pond, a golf course, a water park, and a children's playground, with dotted lines connecting each activity to specific locations within the neighborhood.

Cluster Network

Illustration of a city with various outdoor recreational activities in circles above the buildings, including water play, playgrounds, splash pads, a pond, and a sculpture park.

Neighborhood Network

Just like Agrihoods reimagined housing around food, Neighborhood Games reimagine communities around joy.

It’s a new category of placemaking tool designed to meet today’s biggest needs: wellness, connection, and belonging.