AURORA, Colo. – The city of Aurora held the ceremonious beam topping out event for its new 76,000-square-foot recreation center Friday, Nov. 5. Fully funded by marijuana tax revenue, the $41.9-million project in southeast Aurora is expected to be completed in early 2023.
The topping out ceremony, which was closed to the public, recognized and showed appreciation to the construction crews and project stakeholders with a short address followed by lunch and site tours of the recreation center located at 25400 E. Alexander Drive.
Aurora Mayor Pro Tempore Françoise Bergan, who represents Ward VI where the center is located, stated, “I’m thrilled with the progress being made at the Southeast Recreation Center. The planners and architects really listened to the community to create a design compatible with the natural setting, that takes advantage of the mountain views, and offers the activities that are so popular with families in our neighborhoods. I can’t wait to go down the water slide and jog on the elevated running track. It’s going to be a beautiful amenity for our residents.”
Those in attendance included Aurora Mayor Pro Tempore Françoise Bergan; Aurora At-Large Council Member Curtis Gardner; Aurora At-Large Council Member Dave Gruber; representatives from Populous, the project architect firm; Saunders Construction, the project general contractor; and select city staff from Parks, Recreation & Open Space and Public Works departments.
The state-of-the-art recreation center will include an indoor pool with waterslide, pool party rooms, fitness area that includes a 1,000-square-foot fitness turf zone, group exercise rooms, multi-purpose community rooms, gymnasium, “figure 8” running track with various elevations—and the newest addition to the city’s recreation center facilities—an over 20,000-square foot-indoor fieldhouse.
The center will also include integrated public art. After a public process, the city’s Art in Public Places Program selected the team artist team Project One Studio of Indianapolis to develop an art installation, “Florescence,” that will be integrated through the recreation center.
