Aurora Parks Explored

Aurora Parks Explored

Tucked into neighborhoods across Aurora, parks offer an oasis for recreation, relaxation and play. Parks are a place where childhood memories are forged, and families gather. Whether you enjoy the playground, swimming pool, skate park or open space – Aurora’s parks have a lot to offer.

Aqua Vista Park Aqua Vista Park was acquired by the city of Aurora in 1985, and the outdoor pool was built a few years later in 1987. The park features a basketball court, playground, two tennis courts and an outdoor pool. The park is located just south of Quincy Reservoir on East Wagon Trail Circle.

Aurora Reservoir

The Aurora Reservoir was built in 1990 to increase Aurora’s water supply.

The reservoir has become a popular destination for recreational activities. Perched on the high plains of Aurora, the Aurora Reservoir is an oasis for swimmers, sailors, windsurfers, anglers and bicyclists. Visitors are welcome to the Aurora’s year-round playground with 820 acres of pristine water, excellent sailing winds, premier fishing and warm sandy beaches for sunbathing, volleyball and picnics. An 8.5-mile bicycle trail circles the reservoir for a great get-away from city cycling. Wintertime offers excellent opportunities to ice fish or ice skate at the Aurora Reservoir.

Aurora Sports Park The Aurora Sports Park opened in 2000 with 12 baseball and softball fields and 23 multi-use fields of natural grass. In 2014 the park, located at 19300 E. Colfax Avenue, underwent an $11 million expansion which included new synthetic fields. The Aurora Sports Park serves 560,000 visitors annually and hosts numerous soccer, baseball, softball, rugby and lacrosse leagues throughout the year.

Centre Hills Park

The city of Aurora purchased the land which would become Centre Hills Park for $1.5 million in August 1980. The park was used as a par-3 golf course from 1990 to 2013.

The golf course was one of several courses designed by Richard Phelps in the Denver-Aurora metro. The former golf course was converted into a disc golf course in 2016. For disc enthusiasts, it plays in a figure 8 shape down a long, narrow stretch of land with three ponds and a creek in the middle. The terrain is quite flat and mostly wide open, except for three or four holes where trees come into play. The disc golf course is free to the public.

City Park City Park, located in old Aurora, was opened to the public on June 12, 1926. The 5.3acre park was landscaped and improved in 1945. City Park features a playground, a couple basketball courts and a skate park that was added in February 2011.

Cottonwood Park Cottonwood Park is a 7.7-acre park located off I-225 and north of Colfax. The park offers a basketball court, picnic shelter, playground and plenty of open green space to enjoy.

DeLaney Farm The DeLaney Farm Historic District consists of 158 acres of open space and is home to buildings that date from 1866 to 1945. The city of Aurora bought the land and now maintains the area as open space. The DeLaney Farm was designated as a local historic district in 1989. In addition to the historic buildings, DeLaney Farm is home to a community garden and provides access to the High Line Canal Trail and Toll Gate Creek Trail.

Expo Park The city of Aurora purchased the land which would become Expo Park in 1969, with additional land acquisitions in 1978 and 1984. The park has a lot to offer for outdoor enthusiasts. The park features an 18-hole disc golf course, basketball courts, a couple baseball/ softball diamonds, tennis courts and a playground. Expo Park also offers access to the High Line Canal Trail and Westerly Creek Trail.

Fulton Park Fulton Park was leased by the city of Aurora in 1956 and is located adjacent to Fulton Elementary school on East 8th Avenue. This park offers numerous athletic amenities including a basketball court and a half, two softball fields, a soccer field and a tennis court. In addition, Fulton Park features a community garden.

Highline Park Ballfields Highline Park Ballfields is a 30.9-acre park that was purchased by the city of Aurora in 1961. The park is perfect for baseball and softball fans and players. Highline Park Ballfields has five diamonds, a playground and picnic shelters for patrons to enjoy.

Meadowood Park Meadowood Park is a 10.7-acre park located at 3054 S. Laredo Street. The park features a baseball/ softball diamond, basketball court, playground, tennis courts and access to the West Toll Gate Creek Trail.

Mission Viejo Park Mission Viejo Park, located at 3999 South Mission Parkway, was dedicated on September 17, 1980. The 21.4-acre park has four baseball/softball diamonds, a playground, shelters and access to the West Toll Gate Creek Trail.

Montview Park Montview Park, located at 1901 N. Chester Street, was purchased by the city of Aurora in the early 1950s and expanded to in the late 1970s. The 8.9-acre park features a playground, basketball courts, a community garden and picnic shelters.

Parklane Park Parklane Park was acquired by the city in 1963 and is located at 13003 East 30th Avenue. Parklane Park, which is a 4.2-acre park, features an outdoor pool, picnic shelters and access to Sand Creek Greenway Trail.

Plains Conservation Center The Plains Conservation Center (PCC) is a 1,100-acre nature preserve and educational center with replicas of a homestead village and tipi camp that showcase pioneer and plains Native Americans life in the late 1800’s. The PCC is located at 21901 E. Hampden Avenue. The land that is now the Aurora site of the PCC was originally owned by the railroad. It was purchased by the city of Denver in 1933 and later became federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Quincy Reservoir Opened in 1973, Quincy Reservoir was built to expand the water capacity for the city of Aurora.

Now it’s a source of fun for boating, fishing, hiking and biking. Quincy Reservoir boasts 160 acres of water surface that is well known by metro anglers for trout, largemouth bass, perch and crappie. Quincy’s shoreline features a 3.5-mile soft surface trail, perfect for viewing wildlife and waterfowl. A picnic table, boat launch and boat rental, and an accessible fishing dock are available for your enjoyment.

Red-tailed Hawk Park

Red-tailed Hawk Park is designated as an all-inclusive park. The Make-A-Wish Foundation along with the Rotary Club, Arapahoe County Open Space and the city of Aurora were all funding partners in making Red-tailed Park accessible to all patrons of different physical capabilities. The playground includes wheelchair accessible swings and a sensory wall. Red-tailed Hawk Park also includes a water sprayground, horseshoe pits, a sand volleyball court and provides access to the Piney Creek Trail.

Rocky Ridge Park Rocky Ridge Park, off Mississippi Avenue, is a 13.3-acre park that features a basketball court, playground and outdoor rock wall. The park is the perfect place for dinosaur fans. At the playground, there is a huge dinosaur bone replica for your children to climb, play and dig. The park, formerly known as Arrowhead Park, was dedicated on April 14, 1978.

Sand Creek Park The land which became Sand Creek Park was originally acquired by the city of Aurora in 1962, and was expanded upon in 1964, 1996 and 1998. The 85.6-acre park has a mix of paved and soft surface trails that parallel and cross Sand Creek. It is part of the larger Sand Creek Greenway, recently designated as a National Recreation Trail.

There are numerous ponds, groves of cottonwoods, and multiple creek crossings.

Spencer Garrett Park The 6.4-acre Spencer Garrett Park, located in old Aurora, hosts a basketball court, community garden, playground and picnic shelters. The park is named after former Aurora Police Chief Spencer Garrett. Garrett became the police chief in September 1949 and served until 1970. During his tenure, APD grew from 7 to 79 officers and the department changed substantially by updating the rank structure, creating new divisions and hiring civilians as support staff. Garrett also ensured APD kept up with technological changes by acquiring the latest equipment under his leadership.

Switchgrass Park, located in eastern Aurora along South Conservatory Parkway, was dedicated in March 2011. The 4.3-acre park features a playground, picnic shelter, and access to the Conservatory West Trail.

Switchgrass Park

Village East Park Village East Park, located at 1400 South Moline Street, is a 5.9-acre park that provides access to the Westerly Creek Trail. The city originally purchased the land in 1969. The park features a baseball/ softball diamond, a football field and a playground.

Village Green Park Village Green Park, located at 1300 South Chambers Circle, hosts one of 6 outdoor pools overseen by the city of Aurora. The land was purchased by the city in the mid-1970s. In addition to the pool, the 8.2-acre park has tennis courts, a playground and lots of green open space.

Wheel Park The city of Aurora acquired Wheel Park in 2002. The park features a BMX track, skateboard bowl, inline hockey rink, picnic shelter, and access to Cherry Creek Spillway Trail. The 25.3-acre park is accessed from Iliff Avenue, ¼ mile east of Chambers Road. Wheel Park is popular with extreme sports enthusiasts of all ages.