An Aurora panel this week endorsed a contract to build a small passive park on the West Side.
The Finance Committee recommended a $70,313 contract with Aurora-based MM Peters Construction Inc. to build what is called a pocket park on Iowa Avenue, about a half-block south of Illinois Avenue.
Development of the park would be on a currently grassy lot with a catawba tree on it. Ian Wade, of the city’s engineering department, said the park would feature a walkway, with benches around the tree.
“There would be no playground equipment, it would be a passive park,” Wade said.
The park was supposed to be developed a few years ago at the same time another small park was developed on a corner lot on Plum Avenue.
Both pocket parks are in the 6th Ward and were proposed by the ward’s Ald. Michael Saville. Saville was to pay for both with ward funds, but at the time, there was not enough money in his fund to do both parks.
Now he has the ward funds to finish the second park, on Iowa Avenue, Wade said.
“We’ve been working with Ald. Saville on this,” Wade said. “This has been on his radar for a while.”
MM Peters was the lowest of five bids received for development of the park, he added.
