Federal arts grant to fund temporary redesign and events at plaza by library
The City of Aurora has secured a $75,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to pilot a revitalization of Fletcher Plaza, the open space in front of the Martin Luther King Library on East Colfax Avenue. The municipality plans to match the grant, bringing the project budget to $150,000, and to use the funds to test temporary features and programming intended to draw residents, artists and families into the space.
Officials say the plaza currently functions as both a park and the library’s entrance, but that it remains underused despite its location on a busy arterial street. The grant-funded work will focus on short-term, low-cost interventions—activities and installations that can be installed quickly and adjusted based on neighbourhood response.
What the pilot will test
- Temporary play areas for children
- Event programming to attract local artists and visitors
- Plaza reimagining to mitigate impacts of adjacent traffic noise and speed
Ginger White Brunetti, Director of Library and Cultural Services for the City of Aurora, framed the approach as experimental: the city intends to learn what amenities, activities and design elements will best activate the space for local families and the nearby community.
"Creating those assets that allow that to happen and those amenities that allow that to happen is, I think, one way in which to create a space that is well utilized by the neighbourhood," said White Brunetti.
Local business owners say better activation of the plaza could make a meaningful difference for nearby enterprises. Thoa Nguyen, who owns Banh & Butter Bakery Café across East Colfax, described the corridor as fast-moving and easy for passersby to miss. She and her sister relied on social media and marketing to attract customers and pointed to nearby gathering places—such as Stanley Marketplace—as destinations where people meet and linger.
Nguyen said successful events or programming at the plaza would help put local businesses "on the map" and create reasons for patrons to stop and stay in the neighbourhood.
Budget and timeline
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| NEA grant | $75,000 |
| City match | $75,000 |
| Total pilot budget | $150,000 |
The city has described the project as a pilot rather than a permanent reconstruction. By prioritizing temporary installations and events, officials aim to identify durable solutions that are informed by direct community feedback before committing to long-term capital works.
Community activation as economic and social strategy
Plaza activation projects like Aurora’s typically pursue multiple goals: increasing foot traffic for neighbouring businesses, providing safe and attractive play and gathering spaces for families, and creating opportunities for local arts and cultural participation. The East Colfax corridor’s high traffic speeds and noise were noted by city staff as challenges the pilot seeks to address in part through programming and place-making rather than immediate structural change.
For business owners and residents adjacent to Fletcher Plaza, the project represents an opportunity to test new uses for public space and to build momentum for longer-term investment should the pilot prove successful.
City officials say the grant-funded initiative is intended to be nimble: temporary features can be adjusted as the city gathers evidence about what draws people into the plaza and keeps them there. If community response is positive, the pilot could inform future capital projects or sustainable programming strategies for the site.
