A nearly three-decade-old land donation in Taylor, Texas, has become the subject of a legal dispute after property originally designated for future parkland was sold for a data centre project. The 87.97-acre tract was donated in 1999 for a nominal fee of $10, with deed language stating that it should be held in trust for future use as parkland. After a series of transfers between non-profit organisations and public entities, the land was sold in 2025 to data centre developer Blueprint for $10 million. City officials have cited the project’s economic benefits, while residents challenging the development argue that the original deed restrictions should be upheld.
From a $10 park donation to a $10 million land sale
On July 7, 1999, descendants of local farmer T.J. Bland transferred approximately 87.97 acres to the Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation for $10. The deed stated that the land was to be “held in trust for future use as parkland” in Williamson County.Residents familiar with the property’s history have said Bland wanted the land to serve as a recreational space for the local community. The deed language has since become a key part of the legal dispute surrounding the site’s future use.The property changed hands several times after the original donation.In 2003, the Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation transferred the land to the Williamson County Park Foundation. About a month later, the Williamson County Park Foundation transferred the property to the City of Taylor.In 2008, the City of Taylor sold the land to the Taylor Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) for $15,000. The most recent transfer occurred in 2025, when TEDC sold the property to Blueprint for $10 million.The sequence of transfers is central to ongoing legal arguments regarding whether the original parkland restriction remains enforceable.Blueprint plans to build a 135,000-square-foot data centre on the property. Data centres house computer servers and networking infrastructure used to support cloud computing, online services, data storage and artificial intelligence applications.The proposed facility is part of a broader increase in data centre development across the United States as demand for digital infrastructure continues to grow.
Concerns raised by residents
Residents living near the site have raised concerns about the project’s potential effects on the surrounding area. Issues cited during public discussions include noise, electricity demand, water usage and possible impacts on nearby property values.Some residents have also focused on the original purpose of the land, arguing that property donated for future parkland should not be converted to another use.The opposition group has participated in public meetings and pursued legal action challenging the development.
The economic impact cited by officials
City officials have said the project could generate approximately $30 million in tax revenue over the next decade.According to city estimates, around $20 million of that amount could benefit local schools. Officials have also pointed to the broader economic impact associated with a major technology infrastructure project.The city has stated that the site’s existing zoning limits its ability to prevent the proposed development.
Legal proceedings continue
Residents challenging the project have filed lawsuits seeking to block the development. Court decisions to date have generally favoured the developer, allowing the project to continue moving through the approval process.Opponents have appealed the case to the Third Court of Appeals in Austin. One of the key issues under review is whether the parkland requirement contained in the 1999 deed remains legally binding after the property’s subsequent transfers.The dispute has attracted attention because it involves land that was originally donated with a specific public-use condition. The case also comes at a time when data centre construction is expanding rapidly across the United States.The outcome of the appeal could help determine how similar deed restrictions are interpreted when donated land is transferred between organisations and government entities over long periods of time.