Downtown Aurora is home to the Paramount Arts Centre, a large live performance theater on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Hollywood Casino. There is also the Leland Tower, a former hotel which was the tallest building in Illinois outside the Chicago city limits. It is also on the National Register of historic places. Also located downtown is the main building of Aurora Public Library and a branch campus of Waubonsee Community College. Downtown Alive, a festival that includes live music and a variety of food booths, is held every Friday night in the summer. Roughly 8,000-10,000 people attend every Friday night. Downtown Aurora also hosts the annual Midwest Literary Festival during the second weekend in September. The Riverfront Playhouse is a not-for-profit theater that has held a storefront location in downtown Aurora since 1978.

Commemorative Street Names
Blues Alley
Stolp Ave. between Galena Blvd and Downer Pl.

Dr. William Bonner Avenue
Pond Ave. changed to Bonner Ave.

D. Lloyd A. Hall Avenue
Beach St. between Claim St. and Delius St.

Venon Louis Parrington Drive
Highland Ave. between Kensington Pl. and Galena Blvd.

Rich Eby Avenue
White Ave. between Hartford Ave. and Terry Ave.

Reverent Oliver Shackleford Jr. Way
Sumner Ave. between New York St. and Grand Blvd.

Reverend Rovert Wesby Avenue
Lincoln Ave. between New York St. and Galena Blvd.

Marie Wilkinson Boulevard
View St. between Illinois Ave. and Plum St.

Fox Valley Golf Club

Fox Valley Golf Club (630/879-1030) Located on Route 25 in North Aurora, is an 18-hole golf course that plays 5,927 yards. This course has bentgrass greens, bluegrass ryegrass fairways and tees and fully automated irrigation on greens, tees and fairways. Several ponds enhance the aesthetics of the course.

Garfield Park

Garfield Park is located on 28 acres at Church and Sheffer Roads. Amenities include two Little League fields (Dolan & Andrews), horseshoe courts, a roller hockey rink, a playground, a basketball court, tennis courts, a winter ice skating rink with lights and warming house, a picnic pavilion and open grassy recreational areas.

Mastodon Island & West Recreation Area

Mastodon Island & West Recreation Area is located at Phillips Park. The Mastodon Peninsula site features a tusk maze and a mastodon slide. The gazebo, complete with tiered seating, is available to local schools for their educational programs. The site is easily accessible from the pedestrian bridge on the east side of the lake, along Wyeth Drive. The West Recreation Area, located southwest of the lake, features a playground for youngsters, sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and a pavilion. On-site parking is available off of Parker Avenue. In addition, you’ll find three fishing piers located around the lake.

McCarty Park

McCarty Park at East New York Street and West Park Place, provides a gazebo, gardens, benches and tree shaded grassy areas.

Phillips Park

Phillips Park, located on over 325 acres, is accessible from Smith Boulevard, Parker Avenue, or Howell Place off of Montgomery Road. Attractions include the Visitors Center & Mastodon Gallery (630/978-4774), the Sunken Garden, the Phillips Park Zoo (630/978-4700), the Phillips Park Golf Course (630/499-0670), the Phillips Park Aquatic Center (630/851-8686), Mastodon Lake-a twenty-eight acre fishing lake with a 1-mile path, the Mastodon Island exhibits, the waterfall, World War I cannons and numerous veteran related monuments. Among the amenities you’ll find a large state-of-the-art playground, a toddler’s playground, picnic pavilions, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, horseshoe courts, a jogging/bike path, fishing piers, an ice skating pond, a sledding hill and open recreational areas. Special events and activities are co-sponsored throughout the year with The Friends of Phillips Park.

Phillips Park Family Aquatic Center

Phillips Park Family Aquatic Center is publicly co-owned by the City of Aurora and the Fox Valley Park District. The Fox Valley Park District (630/897-0516) manages the Phillips Park Aquatic Center (630/851-8686) and Splash Country (630/906-7981). Each pool offers pools, water slides, sand volleyball, a picnic area, and concessions.

Phillips Park Golf Course

Phillips Park Golf Course (630/499-0670) is located off of Hill Avenue. The state-of-the-art golf course re-opened in July of 2001. With this renovation, Phillips Park can now boast modern features like “USGA” Greens, a computerized irrigation system, multiple tees, larger greens, better overall drainage systems, strategically placed bunkers and water hazards, cart paths, a driving range and a new clubhouse, as well as a three hole Junior Course. The new driving range has both “All Weather Teeing Surface” for inclement weather and a massive grass tee for a more realistic feel. Phillips Park Golf Course is now a quality championship caliber golf course. With three sets of tees, the golf course ranges from 4,760 yards to 6,200 yards, providing a wide range of challenge for varying abilities.

Phillips Park Visitors Center & Mastodon Gallery

Phillips Park Visitors Center & Mastodon Gallery showcases the mastodon bones that were unearthed in the park during a 1934 Civil Works Administration Project. The skull being the largest of the artifacts, weighs 188 pounds, and greets visitors at the entrance. The bones, estimated to be between 10,000 to 20,000 years old, include a 92-pound lower jaw, a 6-foot-long tusk, ribs and vertebrae. In addition, you’ll find enlarged photographs and a detailed history time line related to the discovery, as well as displays highlighting the history of Phillips Park, the Sunken Garden and the Phillips Park Zoo. The 3,500-square-foot building, located at 1000 Moses Drive, also offers a full view of the Sunken Garden and includes vending machines and public washrooms. Hours of operation are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, from Labor Day through Memorial Day. During the summer months, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the facility will remain open until 8:00 p.m. Admission is free and the facility is handicapped accessible. For more information, contact the City of Aurora’s Department of Parks & Recreation at (630)978-4774.

Phillips Park Zoo

Phillips Park Zoo exhibits include bald eagles, wolves, foxes, otters, elk, goats, pot-bellied pigs, llamas and more. Special events and activities are co-sponsored throughout the year by the Phillips Park Zoociety. The zoo is open daily, year-round and admission is free. Hours of operation are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Labor Day through Memorial Day. During the summer months, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the zoo is open until 8:00 p.m. Parking for the Phillips Park Zoo is located on Moses Drive across from the Sunken Garden. For more information call the Zoo Info-Line at 630/978-4700.

Solfisburg Park

Solfisburg Park, at Ohio Street and Indian Avenue, provides one Little League field (Frett), one Pony League field (Lancaster) and one Legion League field (Bernard) with lighting.

Totland Parks

Totland Parks are at various locations: Claim Street and Beach Street; Anderson and East New York Street; and Best Place and Linda Court. In addition, two new parks opened in the Seventh Ward in 2003: Marie Wilkinson Park at Loucks Street & Galena Boulevard and Bishop William H. Bonner Park at Kane & Loucks streets. Each park provides playground equipment for youngsters, flower gardens and grassy tree shaded areas.

Wilder Park

Wilder Park, on North Lake Street/Route 31, between West Park Place and Vine Street, provides gardens, benches, a Vietnam Memorial, an Aurora Policemen’s Memorial and grassy tree shaded areas in front of the Aurora Police Department.

Pavilion Rentals

Pavilion Rentals Are available at various parks throughout Aurora. To make arrangements for a private pavilion rental (vs. public event) of a park pavilion at Garfield Park or Phillips Park, contact the City of Aurora’s Department of Parks & Recreation at (630) 978-4774. To make arrangements for use of other area park pavilions, contact the Fox Valley Park District at (630) 897-0516.

The Fox Valley Park District

The Fox Valley Park District also owns and operates the following facilities.

• Prisco Center (630/859-8606) at Illinois Avenue and Lake Street
• Eola Community Center (630/851-8990) at 555 South Eola Road
• Blackberry Farms (630/892-1550) at 100 South Barnes Road
• Vaughn Athletic Center (630/907-9600) at 2121 W. Indian Trail

MetroFi Abandons Plans to Provide Free WiFi to Illinois Cities

Aurora and Naperville to Explore Alternative Wireless Options
On Monday, January 21, 2008, the cities of Aurora and Naperville, Illinois jointly confirmed that MetroFi has abandoned plans to extend free wireless Internet connectivity beyond current service areas. MetroFi provides service in nearly 20% of the city of Aurora, along select areas along Route 59 and in downtown Naperville. MetroFi originally signed contracts in 2006 with both cities promising free wireless throughout the municipalities.

City officials expressed disappointment and frustration over the collapse of the deal, but vowed to continue exploring wireless options for their communities. Aurora’s Chief Information Officer Ted Beck stated, “Staying at the leading edge of technology has risks, and we chose a private, cost-free solution to limit our risk. This is not the outcome we wanted and I expect there will be disappointed people, but I believe the fact we didn’t spend taxpayer dollars is positive.”

Naperville’s Director of Management Services Don Carlsen added, “We are disappointed about MetroFi changing their business model in the midst of our contract for free citywide WiFi. There are many choices in technology today, and part of MetroFi’s attraction was that Naperville residents would receive free WiFi service at no cost.”

Neither city is ready to give up on the idea of citywide WiFi just yet. Officials from Aurora and Naperville have been in discussions about releasing a joint Request for Information to evaluate all the potential citywide WiFi options available in the market today. “Mayor Weisner still believes citywide WiFi would be valuable to our citizens and businesses,” explained Aurora Assistant Chief of Staff Carie Anne Ergo, “but he feels the city needs to review all the options through an open and transparent process before moving forward.” Aurora and Naperville are currently leading an effort to jointly purchase a state of the art interoperable radio system to handle public safety communications needs for more than 1.5 million residents.

Last year, MetroFi changed their business model and announced they would no longer offer free Internet service to new municipal customers unless cities agreed to become anchor tenants on the wireless system and commit to a significant level of spending each year. Shortly thereafter, MetroFi approached both Aurora and Naperville about becoming principal users of a secure public safety network. Under their current contracts, Aurora and Naperville have the option of purchasing additional wireless services, but are not required to do so. After deploying and testing MetroFi’s new 4.9GHz public safety network in pilot areas over a period of months, both cities chose not to purchase additional services.

“Accepting MetroFi’s new proposal doesn’t make economic sense and the procurement must go through a competitive process,” said Naperville’s Telecommunications Manager Dan Voiland, who indicated that it would cost Naperville $3.7 million to build out the network, which would only result in an estimated cost savings of $400,000 over a five year period. Completing Aurora’s network would cost approximately $3.5 million. MetroFi officials have agreed to maintain the current network while officials in both communities explore wireless options.

For more information on MetroFi WiFi services, contact MetroFi at (650) 810-8000.

– Source City of Aurora Site (2/19/2008)

Joseph McCarty, a pioneer from New York State, came west seeking a new home. Reaching the Fox Valley, he built the first campfire in April of 1834 on the island, which is now the site of downtown Aurora. He thought that the Fox River location was an ideal place for a new community and told his brother, Samuel. It was not long before Samuel arrived, family was sent for, and a permanent settlement was taking roots. The settlement was named McCarty mills for the brothers’ grist mill and sawmill. In 1837, when a Post Office was established, the village became Aurora, goddess of the dawn. Later, when the City was the first in the United States to use electric lights for publicly lighting the entire City, it achieved the nickname of “City of Lights”.The modest camp of 1834 has grown into a teeming city. With a population of 157,267 according to 2003 special census, the City has steadily grown throughout the years to become the second largest city in the state.

The City is accessible through five interchanges on the East/West Tollway Corridor. Corporate offices and commercial growth on the City’s east and west sides continue to expand the City’s boundaries, now stretching from Route 59 on the east to portions beyond Orchard Road on the west. The Far East Side of the City includes the regional Westfield Shoppingtown at Fox Valley (formerly known as Fox Valley Mall) and residential areas and is projected to house 60,000 people within the next twenty years. The City extends into four counties, Kane, DuPage, Kendall, and Will. There are six school districts and seven townships covered within the city limits. There are four historic districts and a large number of individual landmark designations for many of the City’s buildings.

The City of Aurora is rich in history and pride. The future for the “City of Lights” looks bright as the community continues to grow and prosper.

– Source: City of Aurora Site (2/19/08)

View Homes For Sale in Stonebridge, Aurora

Stonebridge opened in 1989 located in the Fox Valley area of Aurora only minutes from I-88 and Burlington Northern Merta train station. This community is built around the Stonebridge Country Club that features an 18- hole Fazio designed golf course, swimming, tennis, social activities and first class dining at the clubhouse. Stonebridge is comprised of a variety of homes- from multi-million dollar homes to luxury townhomes. All of these fabulous homes make up the many smaller neighborhoods that have their own identity. Within Stonebridge you will find many parks, playgrounds, ponds and a walking path. Students in the Stonebridge community attend Naperville District 204 schools.

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Give us a call today to find how our services can help you when buying or selling real estate in Stonebridge. If you are thinking of selling your home or just like to know your Aurora house value, request for a FREE CMA and we will be in touch with you to provide a free no obligation comparable market analysis of your property. Looking to buy or sell real estate in Aurora, Illinois? Our website is one of the top online resources for viewing Aurora homes, townhomes, condos for sale and for researching Aurora real estate, community and school information.

View Homes For Sale in Oakhurst, Aurora

Oakhurst is a master-planned community opened in 1988 and located in the Fox Valley area of Aurora minutes away from I-88 and the Metra train station. Oakhurst is comprised of 11 distinctive single-family home neighborhoods and 6 neighborhoods made up of town homes and condominiums. Oakhurst has its own community park which includes soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, baseball diamond, and a pavilion with restroom and picnic table area and playground equipment. Oakhurst is located next to the Waubonsie Creek park area and Waubonsie Lake with a path for walking, biking and rollerblading. Oakhurst residents can enjoy the Oakhurst private pool and clubhouse facilities. Oakhurst is serviced by Naperville District 204 schools.

Search real estate in Oakhurst of Aurora and find Oakhurst house values. Access all homes for sale in Oakhurst subdivision, including existing, new construction homes and foreclosures. We also serve all Neighborhoods / Subdivisions in Aurora, Illinois and surrounding communities.

Receive Recent Market Activity For Oakhurst

Give us a call today to find how our services can help you when buying or selling real estate in Oakhurst. If you are thinking of selling your home or just like to know your Aurora house value, request for a FREE CMA and we will be in touch with you to provide a free no obligation comparable market analysis of your property. Looking to buy or sell real estate in Aurora, Illinois? Our website is one of the top online resources for viewing Aurora homes, townhomes, condos for sale and for researching Aurora real estate, community and school information.