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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: John Russell, Grant Writer
DATE: March 1, 2016
SUBJECT:
The City is seeking to apply for a grant from the Kane County Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund to purchase and install long strings of commercial grade, artistic lighting from building-to-building across the Water Street Mall.
PURPOSE:
The City of Aurora and Aurora Downtown, made up of approximately 250 downtown property owners, are collaborating on a project to light up the Water Street Mall. The lighting project will make the Mall brighter, more lively and more welcoming - as well as safer - for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit downtown Aurora each year, and the growing number of downtown residents. Making downtown feel more welcome and safer will provide an economic boost for the City by inspiring visitors to stay downtown longer and patronize the many downtown shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. Economic Development is one of the three priorities in the Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund program, and the Water Street Mall lighting project aligns with this objective. The Riverboat Fund grant guidelines require City Council approval to apply for the grant program.
The City Special Events Division, which is spearheading the project, estimates more than 1,000 LED lights will shine down on the Water Street Mall, strung at roof-top level along the 380-foot length of the Mall -- providing much-needed lighting and a dazzling look. The lights will be on a timer, coming on at dusk every evening year-round.
BACKGROUND:
The idea for the Water Street Mall lighting project grew out of a meeting of City officials and representatives of Aurora Downtown and InvestAurora. With the 300,000 patrons of the Paramount Theatre and Copley Theater, the 100,000 patrons at RiverEdge Park, and the thousands of other patrons at Riverfront Playhouse, Culture Stock, and activities on the Mall (and at City Hall), there are thousands of evening and late night...
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