Construction crews are busy updating several of Aurora’s parks, including the city’s first park, being rebuilt from the ground up.
Two of Aurora’s older parks, City Park and Del Mar Park, are getting face-lifts this summer with work that includes cleaning and resurfacing courts, planting trees and improving walking trails.
Two parks in southeast Aurora, Larkspur and Red-Tailed Hawk, are adding new recreation features such as competition-sized bocce-ball courts, horseshoe pits and a new aquatic playground.
Crews expect to have work finished in the four parks this fall, said Sherri-Jo Stowell, marketing and projects specialist for the city.
Last spring, the City Council allocated $1 million to renovate City Park, at East 16th Avenue and Dayton Street.
Work kicked off in late March and is mostly aimed at improving landscaping; much of the grass has been removed to make way for 100 new trees at the park, currently fenced off to the public.
Other amenities are planned, including a new skate plaza and a grand staircase that will serve as the official entrance to the park. Basketball enthusiasts can look forward to new court surfaces and hoops.
The project will give Aurora’s first park, developed in the 1950s, a fresh look, Stowell said.
Another court-resurfacing project at Del Mar Park, 12000 E. Sixth Ave., should be completed by the end of September.
Crews are resurfacing both the tennis courts and the basketball courts; fencing will be updated as well.
In southeast Aurora, a grand opening is anticipated later this fall for the highly anticipated Red-Tailed Hawk Park, which is wrapping up construction on the second phase.
Stowell said the park will soon include a water spray area similar to the popular feature at Great Plains Park, 20100 E. Jewell Ave.
Also in the works at Red-Tailed Hawk Park: six new bocce-ball courts, horseshoe pits, a new playground and a sand pit for volleyball.
Larkspur Park, which is being built on land dedicated to the city by the developer, will feature a playground, park shelter and horseshoe pits.
The park work is being funded through state and county grants, park development fees and conservation funds, Stowell said.
