Aurora wants grant to help with RiverEdge Park plan
City officials put the wheels in motion Tuesday to begin land and children's play equipment for their multimillion dollar RiverEdge Park along the Fox River in downtown Aurora.
During a special city council meeting Tuesday evening, aldermen voted unanimously to apply for an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant from the state's department of natural resources to support the funding of land acquisition to the tune of $750,000 and funding the children's play area at $400,000.
If the city receives the grants later this year, they will be required to match the funds and intend to do so by selling Tax Increment Finance bonds.
City planning director Stephane Phifer said it would be premature to speculate which of several properties along the 30-acre park that the city would hope to acquire.
"We'll design and plan accordingly once we find out whether we got the grant," she said Tuesday.
As for the children's play area, she said that would be considered the "welcoming gateway" into the park off Broadway Avenue.
"What's included in that play area are an interactive water feature, restrooms, fencing and an interactive sculpture that kids can climb on and play on," she said.
Community Development Director Bill Wiet said if they receive the grant, they will have a three-year window to spend the funds, which would take them beyond the anticipated 2010 opening of some of park's first features.
The vision for the 30-acre park includes an expanded Wilder Park on the west bank, a pedestrian bridge linking the east and west banks, a new garden market and event space, a 6,000-seat outdoor performance venue and an environmental education center overlooking the Indian Creek Wetland.
The first phase of the RiverEdge Park project will focus on an outdoor music venue to house the city's annual concert series, Downtown Alive, beginning in 2009 before major road construction displaces the event from its
current location on Stolp Avenue.
Aldermen already have approved a $15 million bond issue to cover the combined costs of designing the park, land acquisition and environmental remediation. How those funds will be divided is expected to be determined in coming weeks.
Many of the costs related to the park will be reimbursable through the east river tax increment financing districts.
The city also is intent on making the project's funding a donor opportunity for those interested in purchasing naming rights to some element.