Arts Council backs adding service‑branch plaques, seeks guidelines; staff advises against replacing pergola canvas

A Mercer Island resident and Vietnam veteran urged the Arts Council to clarify maintenance and appropriate uses for the Veterans Pergola at Mercerdale Park during the Oct. 15 meeting, and the council provided direction to staff on plaques, temporary displays and the pergola’s canvas cover.

Bob Harper, who identified himself as a Mercer Island resident and Vietnam veteran during the public‑appearance segment, said he found the pergola’s white canvas cover removed and a black mesh substitute installed, and that the mesh had covered service branch logos. He said the pergola “was a city asset and 1 that should be maintained in good condition by the city and not the responsibility of the art council.”

Katie Herzog, Recreation Supervisor and staff liaison, gave background: the pergola was installed in 2005, paid for by the city’s beautification fund and the 1% for art program; it features bronze plaques for service branches and has been used for civic events and seasonal decorations. Herzog said the original canvas cover was last professionally repainted in 2011 and has been unusable since 2021; staff has used a lower‑cost mesh cover since then. Herzog said staff estimated new plaques would cost about $1,500–$3,000 each to fabricate and roughly $3,000–$5,000 to install.

On plaques: Arts Council members signaled support for adding plaques recognizing the U.S. Space Force (established 2019) and the National Guard, directing staff to obtain multiple quotes and add the item to the Arts in Public Places six‑year work plan and the next biennial budget cycle for formal recommendation to City Council.

On seasonal uses and temporary displays: the council asked staff to prepare formal guidelines. Members generally supported holiday lighting and limited performance use near the pergola but said decorative items that obscure service branch plaques or the memorial character — such as hanging flower baskets or installations that compete with the plaque messaging — should be limited or governed by clear policy.

On the canvas cover: staff estimated replacement would cost about $8,000–$10,000 but recommended not replacing it because trees now provide more shade, the cover required frequent maintenance and the pergola is no longer used as the primary stage for city events. Several council members supported staff’s recommendation to retire the canvas cover and redirect funds to other maintenance or art projects; staff said it would include a maintenance schedule and usage guidelines when it returns to the council next year.

Next steps: staff will obtain plaque quotes, draft formal guidelines for permissible seasonal and temporary uses of the pergola, propose updates to the six‑year work plan and biennial budget as appropriate, and return to the Arts Council in spring 2026 with cost estimates and proposed policy language.