I work in the same office building with Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, which means I am lucky enough to get the opportunity to work closely and collaborate with them as well as my other office mates including Invest Aurora, Women’s Business Development Center, Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Quad County African Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber is host to a 10-week Leadership Academy every Fall, and they asked me to lead a tour of downtown for the participants last year. I jumped at the opportunity because I love showing off downtown Aurora. We had dozens of new murals to highlight, and the pedestrian bridge was newly-opened. I created a fun loop to walk that took an hour at a brisk pace.
Dr. Bill Marzano asked me to lead the tour again for the chamber this year. It was perfect timing to showcase painted storefronts for Sugar Skull City, and I was excited to point out some new additions.
Put on your walking shoes and take the tour with me: Here are some highlights:
Start: Outside of City Hall on Water Street Mall; check out the photo booth option on the City Post kiosk, and look north down the mall at the lights, gardens, and Aurora Downtown’s Musical Garden.
Go south, cross Downer Place to Water Street Square. Here, I point out that Aurora Downtown is host to a Food Truck Food Court seasonally at First Fridays, and it’s home to Aurora Farmers Market. In the grassy area just east of Water Street, there are three metal obelisks funded by Aurora Downtown with greenery planted by the City’s horticultural team working with Downtown Services. There are two new bike racks on a pad of flagstone that will serve both the DSC building and Water Street Square. They look great, thanks to city staff members for adding them.
Go east through the DSC walkway, go north on Broadway. There’s a new business within just a few steps: The Cornucopia Tea and Gift Shop recently opened at 63 S. Broadway. The new shop offers anything and everything to create a perfect gift basket. They have their windows painted for Sugar Skull City.
Further east on Broadway, there are more painted storefronts, and a painted utility box outside of Tecalitlan Mexican Restaurant that with funds provided by Aurora Downtown and led by Aurora Public Art. I get to point out a few more painted utility boxes along the way.
Next up is a peek at Mundy Park, which was completely redesigned a couple of years ago. I point out how it’s a great event space as well as a nice complement to The Venue, a music listening room at 21 S. Broadway.
Go past a few storefronts, and there’s another pocket park, which serves as a north alley to Water Street Mall. City staff members recently added some fun amenities such as chess picnic tables and a ping pong table. Aurora Public Art installed large poster stamp art from around the world. A tour favorite is the large Aurora Public Art mural by Netherlands-based Judith de Leeuw.
Continuing north along Broadway, I point out several small businesses that have been downtown for decades helping our downtown to grow and prosper through it all.
There are some new businesses, too. I ask if anyone has checked out the new arcade across the street. We’re at the corner of New York Street and Broadway now, looking across the street at the magnificently-restored Aurora Regional Fire Museum. I urge all ages to give it a visit.
Then we go behind La Quinta de los Reyes and hit the trail. Look left and see a beautiful prairie that volunteers, including me, helped to plant a few years ago. Look how they’ve grown.
Going north on the trail, we get to see the parking lot that will bring new residential growth, and there’s Jake’s Bagels & Deli. If you haven’t been to it, you need to go.
The view from the pedestrian bridge is gorgeous. But first I point out how we love the circles in the concrete, and they’re a selfie-must. We take a group photo in the middle of the bridge, and I don’t miss the opportunity to tell everyone that Aurora Downtown provided funds for the star atop Leland Tower that shines brightly every night.
Now we’re on the west side of the Fox River where some additional residential might be built. Wilder Park is looking nice after a facelift and new playground. It’s technically outside of the SSA, so that’s a good time to explain that a bit.
We go south, back to downtown along the trail. We get to catch Basement of the Dead setting up for that evening’s haunted house. Tivoli Plaza is a nice public space downtown.
I point out our shared offices on the first floor of the casino parking deck at 43 W. Galena Blvd.
There’s a great view behind Waubonsee Community College of Millennium Plaza gazebo where Aurora Downtown is host to concerts during Summer months. We’re at Downer Place now and get to see more Sugar Skull City with a five-foot-tall skull in front of Sergio Furniture. Tredwell Coffee has its outdoor seating parklet that Aurora Downtown helped to provide funds.
It’s mid-October, so the rain gardens are still looking beautiful. Craft Urban’s outdoor dining is welcoming, and Charlie’s Creamery across the street is another superb renovation project.
Two more museums to highlight on Downer Place, and we’re back at City Hall. A nice loop that shows off our downtown, as well as some of the things that Aurora Downtown accomplishes with the help of some of its partners.
Marissa Amoni is the manager of Aurora Downtown, a group of business and property owners in Special Service Area One. Sugar Skull City, Aurora Downtown’s celebration of Day of the Dead, runs through November 6. Follow Aurora Downtown on Facebook and @downtownaurora on Instagram. auroradowntown.org.