Over a dozen new parking spaces and ADA-compliant sidewalks and curb ramps are going to be added to Aurora Park in Newton. The upgrades are coming because of the recent rehabilitation of the six tennis courts in the park, and the addition of two new courts. During that project, the city discovered the existing parking lot in the northwest corner of the park was encroaching on the neighboring property. That lot was removed, which necessitated additional parking.

This project involves widening the existing parking area between East 21st Street South and East 23rd Street South, and creating head-in diagonal parking on both sides of the lot. City staff says the change will increase the total parking capacity for park visitors to approximately thirty-eight spaces. ADA-compliant sidewalks and curb ramps will also be installed. Aurora Park is in City Council Member Stacy Simbro’s Third Ward, and he strongly supports the added parking.

“It looks like we are going from about 24 to 38 parking spaces. So it’s quite a bit of an increase in parking. It’s going to be ADA-compliant, it’s in a central location, and it’s not on the busy streets of 21st or 22nd. It’s a nice addition even though it’s not right by the pickleball courts like the other parking lot was.”

Nine bids were submitted for this project, and the Newton City Council awarded the work contract to Jerry Keenan Concrete. The Newton company put in the low bid of $29,967. That will be paid out of the money that was set aside for the Tennis Court Project.