Aurora, the City of 100 Parks: Solar Outdoor Lighting Opportunities

Once considered a suburb of Denver, Colorado, Aurora has grown in population to approximately 359,000, over half the size of Denver and a city in its own right. Named Sportstown in 2004 by Sports Illustrated, Aurora is known for its civic involvement in sports. The city’s many sports fields, including the 220-acre Aurora Sports Park facility, attract over 30 regional and national sports tournaments each year.

Located to the east of Denver, Aurora is actually larger in terms of area and spans three different counties: Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas. Like much of Colorado, Aurora is a semi-arid landscape with modest precipitation. It is a perfect home base for exploration in the Rocky Mountains, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and various local ski resorts.

Solar LED Park Lighting Design in Aurora

A city of neighborhoods, Aurora manages over 100 parks, as well as 6,000-plus acres of open space and natural areas. These parks may require lighting to promote a sense of safety and security for users, but the cost of getting grid-connected lighting installed in these locations can be prohibitively expensive, not to mention detrimental to the natural environment.

City officials have already begun exploring options in solar lighting, which doesn’t require trenching or other disruption typical of a new grid lighting installation. Sand Creek Park is one location that has recently installed solar LED lighting in the hopes that the project will lead the city to be more self-reliant and less dependent on the local utility company.

In fact, in 2017, City Council approved an ordinance that would force the local utility to sell about 20,000 street lights to the city, which would then manage them internally at a great cost saving, according to city officials. When grid power is not feasible due to accessibility or cost, solar lighting is an option for cities like Aurora to ensure the community can effectively manage its resources. Aurora is on the right track to becoming a more sustainable, resilient community.

Watch our video on commercial solar lighting in Colorado, featuring Aurora’s Sand Creek Park

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