Aurora will use millions in federal grant money, secured by Rep. Jason Crow, for a new library space for teenagers and improved water service, according to officials in a press conference Monday.

In March, Crow got over $12.2 million for community projects through the government appropriations process, with $4 million of the money going to Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, which includes Aurora.

Of the total money, $3 million will go toward Aurora Public library renovations, expanding the city’s Central Library at 14949 E. Alameda Parkway and adding a new space for teens. Another $900,000 will go to Aurora Water to work on distribution pressure valves, according to a city news release.

Congressman Crow and Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman both agreed during Monday afternoon’s press conference that the library additions will be an important move in the city’s efforts to prevent youth violence.

“That’s part of my ongoing effort to make sure that we’re investing in community safety, public safety and violence interruption efforts,” Crow said. “We are providing alternatives for our young folks.”

Aurora Central Library sees more than one million annual visitors, many of whom are children and teens, Coffman said. 

“We believe that expanding and improving library infrastructure and services will positively engage the residents, specifically the youth in our city,” Coffman said. 

Ginger White Brunetti, Aurora’s director of library and cultural services, said the Central Library has not had a major renovation since 1982, adding that the funding is “really critical” to improving the facility and serving the community.

The money will help create a “better-functioning children’s area as well as a space for teens,” Brunetti said. 

Aurora is part of the National Public Safety Partnership for Youth Violence Prevention, identifying in a 2022 study that having safe spaces for youth, things for them to do and positive relationships are all key violence reduction factors that are in high need in Aurora, Brunetti said.

“Creating spaces for youth to safely gather and engaging residents will fuel positive community interactions,” she said. “Aurora Central Library can play a critical function in supporting youth violence prevention.”

The $900,000 going to Aurora Water will go toward fixing and relocating pressure regulating valves, an “essential part” of the city’s water distribution system, according to Marshall Brown, Aurora Water’s general manager.

Aurora has over 1,500 miles of water distribution pipelines and is adding to it by over 100 miles of pipe each year, Brown said. Within that system are over 42,000 valves buried throughout Aurora, many of which regulate pressure to avoid damage to houses, businesses and irrigation systems.

Many of the valves in the northeast quadrant of Aurora are from the 1950s and 1960s, Brown said, so having money to replace and relocate some of them into safer areas is “critical.”

Providing clean drinking water is one of the most important functions of any city, Crow said.

“This project in particular will help relocate pressure regulating valves that are going to more efficiently and effectively deliver high quality drinking water to citizens and also reduce the potential for breakage or failure with that system,” he said. “I’m very proud to be able to do this work.”