RiverEdge Park opens June 14
… AND SO MUCH MORE! www. riveredgeaurora. com
The wait is over!
RiverEdge Park opens June 14
A vision that began six years ago to highlight the Fox River as downtown’ s major catalyst for attracting residents, businesses, and development, is coming into clearer focus with the opening of the RiverEdge Park Music Garden and John C. Dunham Pavilion.
“ The opening of RiverEdge Park’ s Music Garden ushers in a new and exciting era of culture, music and celebration for Aurora that will be enjoyed by families across the entire Chicago region,” said Mayor Tom Weisner.“ This worldclass facility is destined to become a source of community pride, and will serve as an economic catalyst for the future growth of downtown Aurora for years to come.”
Inspired by outdoor entertainment facilities like Chicago’ s Millennium Park and Northerly Island, and Milwaukee’ s Summerfest, the RiverEdge Park Music Garden debuts over Father’ s Day weekend with the 17th annual Blues on the Fox festival. Throughout the summer, it will stage major concerts, regional acts, and the City’ s best musical talent including the Downtown Alive! concert series and Independence Day festivities and fireworks.
RiverEdge Park boasts state-of-the-art acoustics, flexible seating allowing for up to 2,500 seats in front of the stage, general admission for 6,000-8,000 people, plus a rooftop deck that can host 300 VIPs.
The City has partnered with the Aurora Civic Center Authority( ACCA), which manages the historic Paramount Theatre, to oversee the daily operations and programming schedule of the Music Garden. During the past two years, ACCA has been responsible for Downtown Alive! and looks to build on its success at this exciting new venue.
The City used the park project to revitalize former industrial property and cleanup the banks of the Fox River. Aurora secured $ 15 million in grant money to use toward the venture, including $ 8 million from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity – River Edge Revitalization Zone program, $ 3 million from the Fox Valley Park District and $ 2 million from the Dunham Fund. An additional $ 2 million grant from the Kane County Forest Preserve District will be earmarked toward the future pedestrian bridge that will cross the Fox River.
For more information, and a complete list of scheduled events, visit the park’ s website at www. riveredgeaurora. com.
A SUMMER OF FUN AT RIVEREDGE PARK!
In addition to the Blues on the Fox Weekend and the Downtown Alive series throughout the summer, RiverEdge Park will also feature:
COLOR VIBE 5K RACE! July 6
DISNEY’ S BRIDGIT MENDLER! August 28
FIESTAS PATRIAS AURORA!
Sept. 14 & 15
AMPED UP ADVENTURE RACE! June 16
PUERTO RICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL! July 27 & 28
JOAN SEBASTIAN & RAMON AYALA! Sept. 13
… AND SO MUCH MORE! www. riveredgeaurora. com
City of Aurora www. aurora-il. org 3