Aurora details $23.5 million River Edge Park expansion; interim completion targeted for October

Jason Bauer, interim director of public works for the City of Aurora, told the Committee of the Whole on June 17 that the city is moving forward with a major expansion and renovation of River Edge Park to address backstage deficiencies and improve the patron experience. The project budget is “a little over $23,500,000,” Bauer said, with an interim completion target of October and final completion by May 2026.

The project is intended to fix two broad problem areas Bauer called “back of house” and “front of house.” Back‑of‑house work includes a new two‑story, accessible backstage building with elevator, storage and staff amenities. Front‑of‑house improvements include a new permanent restroom building, two large jumbotron screens, and a beverage pavilion with multiple service windows. “The size of the venue is about 6 thousands, about 6,000 patrons,” Bauer said, describing the park’s current capacity and the limits that have affected artist bookings.

The beverage pavilion will be sited on the south side of the park and includes an upper VIP deck and a large patio to manage queuing. Bauer said the new lawn seating to the south of the beverage pavilion will add roughly 1,000 to 2,000 seats but that the city will “start that slow and see how it goes” to avoid overwhelming operations.

Construction management is being provided by RC Wegman; Ratio Architects designed the work. Bauer said the city split the project into bid packages to allow early backstage work to proceed without disrupting Christkindlmarket loading and events. He reported strong local participation among bidders and said about $8 million of the contracts are to firms within 15 miles, including several Aurora companies.

Bauer described early foundation issues encountered during excavation. “We had to go all the way down to bedrock,” he said, and noted some foundations are bearing on bedrock at depths of “25, 30 feet.” He said that once the deep foundations were completed, work has gone “a lot smoother.”

Council members pressed staff for fiscal and program details. Alderman Smith asked whether staff had an estimate for annual incremental revenue from food, beverage and entertainment after the expansion; Bauer and representatives said revenue forecasts will be developed after the first season using the new facilities and that ACA (Aurora Civic Center Authority) estimates will factor in patron totals and types of acts attracted. Alderman Smith also raised the city’s summer entertainment schedule displaced by construction; Shannon Cameron, chief of staff, said some events will move to the Paramount Theatre and other locations to lower city costs for staging, safety and equipment.

Accessibility was discussed. An alderman raised concerns about patrons with mobility needs; Bauer said the city has relocated an ADA drop‑off and runs shuttle/transport carts to move patrons from dedicated parking to a designated seating area, and that the carts can accommodate people in wheelchairs without transfers. He said the ADA transport system uses multiple carts to make short trips and that the approach has been in place for about two years.

Remaining procurement items Bauer said staff will return to council on include the second jumbotron purchase, site Wi‑Fi and cameras, door access controls, and furniture/fixtures/speakers. He said ECHA (likely the event booking authority) has already received “positive review” from touring managers about the planned backstage upgrades.

Bauer asked councilors to be patient with Christkindlmarket layout changes this year; the market will be reconfigured south of the beverage pavilion and some booths temporarily relocated during construction. He reiterated the city’s schedule goals: interim completion in October to be ready for Christkindlmarket and final completion in May 2026 to be ready for concert season.