Aurora to hold ribbon cutting for RiverEdge Park after $16 million renovation
Aurora host a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for the reopening of RiverEdge Park on June 18, following nearly $16 million in renovations and expansion. The event, organized by the City of Aurora and the Aurora Civic Center Authority, will begin at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
The ceremony feature remarks from Mayor John Laesch and Aurora Civic Center Authority President and CEO Tim Rater. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the new construction, including the beverage pavilion, skydeck, restrooms, south gate entrance, and will call area. After the ribbon cutting, attendees can visit the backstage area and the new artist building.
The RiverEdge Park Expansion Project began in 2018 with meetings between city staff, the Aurora Civic Center Authority, key stakeholders, RiverEdge Park Committee members, and the Aurora Police Department to review improvements based on the original concept plan. The renovations include increasing the park’s capacity by 1,500 people, a backstage expansion of nearly 10,000 square feet, a new southern entryway, a new VIP section, upgraded sound systems, two new jumbotrons, and a new sponsor skydeck and beverage pavilion.
"What an exciting way to reopen RiverEdge Park and kick off a true Aurora tradition in 'Blues on the Fox.' These key renovations to RiverEdge Park will continue to attract diverse and high-quality acts that expand Aurora’s entertainment portfolio and drive more visitors to our City," according to Mayor John Laesch. "This ribbon cutting ceremony is the result of years of planning, coordination, and a strong partnership with the City of Aurora. We are looking forward to continuing to build on each other’s successes, further revitalizing the City’s downtown, and promoting Aurora as a hub for engaging live entertainment," according to Tim Rater.
The annual "Blues on the Fox" festival will return on June 20, marking the start of RiverEdge Park’s summer concert season. This year’s headliner is Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, with performances by Tommy Castro & the Painkillers, Ally Venable, and Eric Gales. Other acts scheduled for the summer include Third Eye Blind, the Six One Five Collective, The Beach Boys, Cheap Trick, Gov’t Mule, Lauren Alaina, UB40, and Poi Dog Pondering. The park will also introduce a family-friendly Movies in the Park series and will host Aurora’s annual 4th of July Fireworks Celebration on July 3 at 9:15 p.m.
The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at Gate 4, the newly renovated entrance at the south end of the park near the RiverEdge Park Pedestrian Bridge. Parking is available at the Aurora Transportation Center and Wilder Park, with pedestrian access from the west side of the Fox River.