For information on becoming a GreenTown sponsor, click here.

To see a list of GreenTown partners, click here.

Located 37 miles west of Chicago and recognized as one of the “Best Places to Live” by Money Magazine in 2007 and 2008, downtown Aurora, Illinois is home to the historic Paramount Theatre, an ideal setting for GreenTown: The Future of Community. The Paramount Theatre opened on September 30, 1931 and was designed by nationally renowned theater architects C.W. and George L. Rapp. Today, the Paramount Theatre supports an annual audience of 150,000 patrons and was named one of the Top 10 theatres in Chicago by the League of Chicago Theatres.

Location and Directions

Paramount Theatre
23 East Galena Boulevard
Aurora, Illinois 60506

We encourage attendees to take alternative transportation by walking, biking or using public transportation.

By Train from Chicago:
Take the Metra Burlington Northern Santa Fe Line from Union Station on Canal Street between Adams and Jackson Blvd. to the Aurora Station. Exit the station and travel south on North Broadway toward Spring Street. Turn right at East New York Street and left on West New York Street. Take a left on East Galena and arrive at the Paramount Theatre.

By Automobile from Chicago:
Take I-290, I-294, I-355 or Route 59 to I-88 West. Exit at Route 31 (Lake Street) and go south (right) 2 1/2 miles to Galena Boulevard. Turn left. Travel three blocks and the Paramount Theatre is on the right side of the street.

From the West:
Take I-88 East. Exit at Route 31 (Lake Street) and go south (right) 2 1/2 miles to Galena Boulevard. Turn left. Travel three blocks and the Paramount Theatre is located on the right side of the street.

From the Southeast:
Take I-55 North to Route 59 North. Continue to New York Street. (north of Fox Valley Mall in Aurora/Naperville) and turn left. Follow New York Street into downtown Aurora. Just past the Hollywood Casino, turn left onto River Street. (There will be a green overhead sign that will say, Left Turn Only No Trucks). Take that left around the block, and you will come to Galena Boulevard, turn left onto Galena. Travel two blocks and the Paramount Theatre is located on the right side of the street.

From the Southwest:
Take Route 47 North to Galena Blvd (not the traffic light which is Galena Road prior to Galena Blvd.). Turn right on Galena Blvd and go six to seven miles into Downtown Aurora. The theatre is on the right hand side of the street.

Parking

Parking is available at the Municipal Garage located on the corner of Stolp & Downer, just one block South of the Paramount. Cost is $.50 per hour. Metered parking is available on nearby streets. For more information, visit www.paramountarts.com/planparking.php.

Travel

Plan to arrive by the morning of Thursday, October 2 and depart in the evening. Aurora is located 40 miles from both O’Hare and Midway International Airports.

Accommodations

Conference attendees are eligible to receive a special group rate at the Comfort Suites Aurora. Centrally located near major area attractions, the hotel is a short three-block walk from the Paramount Theatre.

The Comfort Suites Aurora
111 N. Broadway
Aurora, Illinois 60605
www.comfortsuitesaurora.com

For reservations, call 888.227.5866 and ask for the GreenTown room rate. The special rate is available at $89 for a standard or double room or $154 for a king room through September 1, 2008, or until the all the rooms in the block have been reserved.

Meals

Breakfast, lunch and break time refreshments will be served at the conference on Thursday.

Attire

Business casual is appropriate for all conference functions.

Registration

Registration fees are as follows:
Individual: $295
Municipality representative: $175

A limited number of student registrations are available at the discounted price of $75. Contact Sara Rechtin for details.

To register electronically for the conference, click here.

If you would like to register via mail in/fax-back form, click here.

For questions, contact Sara Rechtin at srechtin@a5inc.com or call 312.546.6042.

Greening the Conference

GreenTown: The Future of Community is a carbon neutral event. To offset our impact on the environment, Community Energy has generously donated wind power through renewable energy credits. Awarded the 2006 Green Power Supplier of the Year designation by The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, Community Energy is dedicated to expanding the availability of clean, renewable energy by constructing more wind farms.

We are taking further steps to green the event by reducing the amount of printed material used for the conference, reducing packaging, offering recycling, reducing linen and towel usage, encouraging walking to and from the venues and providing locally grown, organic foods where possible.