Located in the Near Eastside Historic District, McCarty Park is the site of Aurora's first town square and later became the city's first park. The land was donated by brothers Joseph and Samuel McCarty, Aurora's first non-indigenous settlers and millwrights, in 1834. The square served as the heart of the fledgling community of East Aurora, incorporated as a village in 1845. On the west side of the Fox River, West Aurora was organized in 1854. On February 11, 1857, the two towns joined together to officially incorporate as the City of Aurora. The park remains a vibrant community space that serves as a testament to this history.