Aurora takes step toward River Edge Park project

It's the first step toward building Aurora's version of Chicago's Millennium Park.

Crews today began demolishing a building at 370 N. Broadway to pave the way for construction of the multi-million dollar River Edge Park along the Fox River.

The 30-acre site, roughly between Illinois Avenue and New York Street, will be an integral part of the city's overall plan to redevelop its downtown.

It'll feature an outdoor music venue, botanical garden, nature center and a pedestrian bridge linking the east and west river banks.

Plans for the park were announced this spring. The project will be done in phases over the next several years.

Once done, it could host concerts, water and light shows, boat races, parades and private events like weddings, leaders say.

Demolishing the one-story, brown brick building on Broadway is a first step toward that goal, city leaders said.

"It paves the way for us to implement the first phase of the park," said Bill Wiet, community development director.

The city bought the 3,000-square-foot building in May for about $475,000, he said, with the intent to use it for the park.

It used to be an auto shop and once housed the Aurora Boxing Club, said the city's Mark Anderson, who is overseeing the demolition.

Most of the work was done today, Anderson said. Many materials, such as bricks and doors, are being saved to use again, he said.

The entire site, about 13,000 square feet, will become open space for now.

"One thing the demolition will do is open up the public view of the river from Broadway," Anderson said.

Eventually, a guest services facility will be built in that area, with landscaping and street improvements.

The park's first phase includes demolition and site work on a roughly 12-acre portion of the park.

It also includes building the music venue, a playground, interactive water features and a botanical garden with a market area.

Initial cost estimates set the price for this phase around $12.5 million, with about half coming from public funds. Donor opportunities also will be available.

Workers in October submitted plans for state permits, a process that could take up to two years, Wiet said.

The city also owns the building to the south of 370 N. Broadway but currently is maintaining a lease with the tenant, he said.

Leaders plan to eventually demolish the current police station at 350 N. River St. to use for the park once the new headquarters opens.