City Announces Park Committee Reformation

The City of Aurora is pleased to announce the reformation of its Park Committee.

Reforming the committee has been a goal of Councilor Brian Asher. A group of residents has agreed to step up and serve alongside Councilor Asher to work on long-term planning for potential future park sites in Aurora. They are Ronan Feely, Annie Harris, Stuart Cregger and Nick Kaiser.

Cregger and Kaiser recently served on the city's budget committee. Kaiser and Harris have been previously involved in efforts related to parks, and Feely is among those who have helped organize and plan for this year's Colony Days event.

"The new park committee includes persons with long-term institutional knowledge and a history of volunteer service to the city," City Recorder Scott Jorgensen said. "Some of its members are very familiar with the city's budget, which I think is important. It also has members of different age groups, including some with young children. All of those perspectives should prove valuable as the committee engages citizens on the kinds of amenities and recreational activities they would like to see the city include in any parks that may be built as Aurora continues to grow."

The committee will be meeting on the third Tuesday of every month, with its first scheduled for September 18 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of city hall. As part of the agenda, committee members will conduct an overview of current city-owned properties. There will also be a presentation by Betsy Imholt, who has deep roots in the community, about the challenges and opportunities associated with the Aurora Mills Park project. That project involved the use of a few acres near the railroad tracks on the north end of town as a potential new city park.

"I'm looking forward to working with this group of community volunteers, and urge citizens to participate in the process and make their voices heard," Jorgensen said. "I would like to thank all the members of the committee for their willingness to serve in this capacity."