City Of Aurora Receives Funding For Playground Improvements

The Rising Sun Regional Foundation and the Dearborn Community Foundation provided nearly $100,000 in grant money.

Pictured are Aurora Elementary School 4th Graders with Aurora City Manager, Guinevere Emery. Photo provided. 

(Aurora, Ind.) - The City of Aurora has received two generous grants that will allow for the installation of new and replacement ADA compliant playground equipment. 

In a news release November 7, the City of Aurora announced they have received a $20,000 grant from the Rising Sun Regional Foundation and $76,614 from the Dearborn Community Foundation through the Lawrenceburg Community Phase 2 Grant Program. 

The $96,614 in funding will be used to install new and replacement ADA compliant playground equipment at the Taylor Ball Fields on U.S> 50 and Moore Street, improvements to the Aurora City Park Playground and replacement playground parts at various city park sites. 

As matching funds, the city has budgeted $7,000 towards playground equipment, bringing the total investment to $103,614. 

The City of Aurora is seeking a Powerscape Extra Innings Playground Replacement at the Aurora Ball Fields. The current playground is undersized, rusted and non-ADA compliant, which causes safety concerns for visitors. 

The new center site for the ball fields will also assist the Aurora Recreation Community Center with outdoor playground facilities. 

The city will be working with South Dearborn Community Schools, AES Principal Mary Bailey and Aurora Elementary 3rd and 4th graders as part of a STEM Project Activity geared at understanding community development. 

The AES students, under the guidance of teachers Mrs. Hutton and Mrs. Streitenberger, contributed research, prepared playground survey results, wrote letters to the Aurora Park Board, and provided drawings that contributed to the grant funding process - coordinated by City Manager Guinevere Emery. 

"Their survey result percentage was higher than the Master Parks Plan survey results," said Emery. "I'm convinced we have some great community planners at Aurora Elementary School with their critical feedback that was spot on. Overall it's been super fun to see their involvement and excitment thru long term development planning process." 

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