A recent national study on recreation in America placed Aurora near the very bottom — No. 93 out of 100 U.S. cities — for things like rec center space and city park budgets. But officials point to plans in the works that will help the city climb up that list.

According to a WalletHub analysis completed earlier this month, Aurora, with its approximate population of 350,000 fell short overall on available entertainment and recreation facilities — 81st — as well as the relative cost of those things and the amount of money that the city spends on them — 73rd.

WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities in terms of 35 key metrics, ranging from parkland acreage to the cost of movie tickets. Orlando came in first overall, pulling the No. 1 rating for recreation amenities, and St. Louis comparatively came in 6th with the No. 1 place in costs for things ranging from spending on parks per capita to average food prices.

Aurora officials say the city is well on the way to closing those gaps. With the new 30,000-square-foot Moorhead Recreation Center entering vertical construction and plans emerging for the build of another new, full-service recreation center in the city’s southeast neighborhoods, parks and rec officials are confident that the city’s recreation ranking is on the rise.

“The city of Aurora is making great strides in the offering of recreation classes, programs and facilities to the citizens and visitors alike,” said Tom Barrett, director of the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department. “Funding in excess of $55 million dollars has been committed to physical improvements to the recreational side of the system that started with the Aurora Sports Park expansion, the Moorhead Center renovation and the brand new recreation facility being planned along Telluride and Vassar.”

The city has hired an architect to begin the stages of planning for the new recreation center near East Iliff Avenue and South Tower Road, which in its earliest conceptions could include a large indoor family aquatics component and a dedicated gymnastics center for the city’s growing programs. In September, $30 million was allocated for the construction.

A demographics survey completed by the Aurora Residents for Recreation Task Force determined that there are more than 200,000 residents living within a 4-mile radius of the new recreation center site.

Arnie Schultz, one of the founders of group and chair of Aurora’s Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Board, said that Aurora is short indoor recreation space, averaging 0.44 square feet per capita compared to about 1.7 square feet per capita for the rest of the metro area. That totals about 400,000 square feet of needed recreation space.

“The Aurora Residents for Recreation Task Force was authorized by council to do a needs assessment and a feasibility study,” Schultz said. “(Years ago), I suggested we take council on tours of recreation facilities. That tour included Moorhead where many of the council members had never been. Once inside, at least one of them asked where the rest was … I think that played a role in them approving the rec center that will be built at Vassar and Telluride.”

The Moorhead Recreation Center this time last year was a 4,500 square foot drop-in center built in 1975 that averaged thousands of visits from kids and teens every month. After years of planning and fundraising, demolition of the old center began in January, with a planned re-opening of a two-level, 31,000 square foot facility on Memorial Day next year.

While construction is going on, kids who typically use Moorhead are across the street at Fletcher Community School, where Aurora staff hold a day program five days a week, for $5 a month to continue serving the kids in the north Aurora neighborhoods. Youth boxing and adult Zumba classes are also being held in the gym there.

“We are very excited to move into the new recreation center next year,” said Jennifer Taylor, Moorhead program assistant. “Once it’s finished, we’ll be able to include all ages of visitors more fully because the building will essentially transform from a drop-in center to a full-service recreation center.”

Denver and Colorado Springs also landed on the WalletHub study. Denver came in 20th, scoring high in the quality of parks category (No. 16), and Colorado Springs ranked 32 overall, tallying its highest number in the costs category (No. 21).

“It’s a time of renaissance for the PROS Department as new staffers are generating creative, unique and different ideas for programs and events that should positively influence future rankings,” Barrett said. “The department offers excellent quality of life and memorable experiences with all existing and future enhancements that will occur within the city.”