New chapter for Aurora's downtown as Library Square renamed Town Square

'It speaks to what it is -- the heart of a revitalized downtown core,' mayor says

Yorkregion.com
June 25, 2021
Lisa Queen

Aurora is turning the page on the name Library Square.

On June 23, the town announced that the downtown revitalization project will now be called Aurora Town Square.

The name was chosen following public consultation and reflects “an age-old desire for communities to share a space of belonging and celebration,” the town said in a statement.

Aurora Town Square is the perfect name for the reimagined Library Square, Mayor Tom Mrakas said.

“It speaks to what it is -- the heart of a revitalized downtown core, a focal point for community gatherings in this great town of ours,” he said.

“Aurora Town Square is a name that speaks to the small-town charm our community has, but with big-city amenities such as those that the square will provide. It will be at the centre hub of future growth as our downtown core continues to revitalize.”

Aurora Town Square beat out the other three finalists, Aurora Junction, Church Street Square and Constellation Square.

Since 2018, the town says, staff have taken numerous steps to find a new name as Library Square no longer captures the full extent of the scope of this project.

While the Aurora Public Library remains its backbone, the project includes many other local and regional stakeholders that will work together to animate the public space, featuring arts, theatre, music, community events and activities all year around, the town said.

Key features of the project opening in 2022 include:

A 29,000-square-foot outdoor community space animated by a skating track in winter that can be turned into a water feature in the summer, an amphitheatre/performance space, art installation spaces, a community event space and an enclosed bridge between the library and the Church Street School addition.

A 32,000-square-foot addition to the Church Street School facility will feature a flexible performance hall with seating for up to 250 and new multi-purpose arts programming spaces.

Some major updates, including a new entrance and new public spaces at the Aurora Public Library, which will make it even more accessible and user-friendly.

For more information on Aurora Town Square, visit aurora.ca/auroratownsquare.