This Dunham Fund $2 million grant will name the Dunham Pavilion, the concert and entertainment venue that will be an integral part of the first Music Garden phase of the new five-phase RiverEdge Park and Nature Conservancy project conceived by the City of Aurora Downtown Redevelopment Commission to enhance the quality of downtown community and commercial life and to revitalize the environment along the banks of the Fox River. The grant will be paid in three installments; $500,000 in 2011, $500,000 in 2012, and $1,000,000 upon completion of the project.
RIVEREDGE PARK AND THE DUNHAM PAVILION
On March 17, 2011 in his "State of the City" address, Mayor Thomas Weisner announced the awarding of a $2 million Dunham Fund grant to name the Dunham Pavilion, the concert and entertainment venue that will be an integral part of the first Music Garden phase of the new five-phase RiverEdge Park and Nature Conservancy project conceived by the City of Aurora Downtown Redevelopment Commission to enhance the quality of downtown community and commercial life and to revitalize the environment along the banks of the Fox River. The RiverEdge Park project has been launched with an $8,000,000 State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs grant and will be totally funded through the additional support of local government and park district, corporations, community and private foundations, and individual donors.
Aurora, Illinois is a quickly growing city and according to the recent U.S. Census, its population is 190,000+. The city is situated along the Fox River, at the western edge of the Chicago metropolitan region. Despite its dramatic growth and stature as the second largest city in Illinois, it has struggled to bring vibrancy to its downtown. In an effort to effect change, public and private groups joined together to promote the creation of a plan for a new "Central Park" that would become a regional destination and project a sophisticated, energetic image for the community.
The plan promotes redevelopment, recreation, and resource restoration, using an innovative and environmentally sustainable design to address community needs, while celebrating the Fox River. "This regional park located in the heart of the city", said Mayor Weisner, "will connect neighborhoods on both sides of the river and act as a catalyst to unify Aurora in a dynamic public gathering place."
As envisioned, the park will be intertwined with the Fox River, flowing through the heart of Aurora. The park will embrace the river, weaving the city and the water together seamlessly. The Fox River will no longer be an ignored waterway, but will be elevated to its rightful prominence and the city's greatest natural asset will be directly experienced in an urban setting.
The park will connect the built environment to the river's natural environment, including upstream tributaries. The park centerpiece will be a dramatic pedestrian suspension bridge connecting the river's banks. The Iconic Bridge will create a memorable arcing form which embraces the river while affording panoramic views of the park, city, and activities such as boating, fishing, and festivals.
The project will be implemented in five phases:
The creation of the Music Garden will be the first phase of the total RiverEdge Park Project and will include the Garden Market, an outdoor performance venue and seating lawn. The performance venue or Dunham Pavilion will include a performance stage, state-of-the-art acoustics, with theatre seating, including roof-top viewing, for up to 3,600 people for smaller performances and lawn seating for an additional 10,000 to 15,000 people for larger concerts and events. The venue and music garden were based on outdoor entertainment venues already built in Milwaukee and Millennium Park in Chicago.
Take a tour and learn about the new RiverEdge Park and the Music Garden
