Most of the world first heard about Aurora, Illinois in 1992 as the home of Wayne Campbell, the fictional host of Saturday Night Live's Wayne's World. However, Aurora has been around since 1845 when it was founded on the banks of the Fox River. Aurora is an outer suburb of Chicago, about 40 miles to the west of the Windy City. The city has its own nickname, The City of Lights, a name it received as one of the first cities in the country to adopt electric street lights back in 1881.
Aurora is one of the cultural centers in Illinois. Many of the touring shows that pass through Chicago also have showings at the Paramount Theater. The new RiverEdge Park is a popular concert venue. It is home to the annual Blues on the Fox Festival. Reflecting the diverse heritage of its citizens, Aurora is also home to one of the largest Hindu temples in the United States, Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple in West Aurora, which hosts several annual religious festivals.
This city is also known for its dedication to sports. There are several well-maintained golf courses in the area. On the north side of town, the Bliss Creek Golf Club has been used as a course for the PGA tour.
With its diverse population, including citizens of Mexican, Indian, and Pakistani heritage, it is no wonder that soccer is popular in the city. Many of the local schools and parks have soccer fields, both grass, and turf, with leagues for all ages. Aurora has sent several high school club teams to the Junior World Cup Soccer tournament.
When it comes to sports rivalries, the competition between East Aurora and West Aurora High Schools is high. They have been rivals since the early 1900s, competing in all the major high school sports. The East Aurora versus West Aurora football game is always the biggest game of the year.
With one of the largest populations in Illinois, Aurora dedicates a good deal of space to city parks for its citizens. These parks are designed to be spaces for a large variety of recreational pastimes. In the Aurora park system, you will find parks for active play and restful leisure.
Phillips Park
Phillips Park is the central park for the city and hosts an all-inclusive park experience. Some of the features of the Park include:
Mastodon Island
This peninsula and lake that surrounds it are named for mastodon bones that were discovered by city workers in the area in 1934. A large mastodon skull is on display in the Phillips Park Visitor's Center. The island features a mastodon-themed playground, walking trails and a picnic area.
Phillips Park Zoo
The Phillips Park Zoo is a popular destination for families. It is the home to 100 animals of more than 40 species.
Aquatics Center
An excellent area for family fun, the Phillips Park Family Aquatics Center has water slides, a water play area, and a lap-swimming pool.
Skate Park
The Phillips Park Skatepark offers 12000 square feet of concrete challenges for skateboarders and BMX riders.
Sunken Gardens
A long-standing community project, the sunken gardens at Phillips Park are known for their beautiful flowers and landscaping.
Greenspace
Between Mastodon Island and the main park, there are acres of green lawns for Frisbee games or family picnics.
RiverEdge Park
RiverEdge Park is located on the east bank of the Fox River. It is one of the newest parks in Aurora. The park is a public/private collaboration. While it has riverside trails for walking, it also is a concert venue for music concerts and hosts music festivals in the summer.
Garfield Park
This 28-acre park represents the Aurora area's love of sports. While it has lawns and picnic pavilions, it is best known for its ball fields, basketball courts, and tennis courts. It is also home to a winter ice skating rink.
Solfisburg Park
From 1910-1915, Aurora had its own minor league baseball team, the Aurora Foxes. Solfisburg Park continues that heritage as the primary ball field complex for the city of Aurora. The park hosts baseball and softball leagues of all ages.
The Totland Parks
Scattered throughout the city of Aurora are five, smaller community parks designed specifically for families with children. They all provide shady grass areas, playgrounds, and landscaped gardens. The Totland Parks are perfect for a family afternoon outing.
With all these open spaces in different settings, lawn care in the Aurora parks system is a big job. It is well worth the effort as a beautiful lawn creates a great space for fun and relaxation. The lawn at your home is no different. A well-maintained yard can be the setting for all sorts of family memories. If you are looking for someone to help you with lawn care, contact the professionals at Lawn Love today.
