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Mercer Island staff report: playground openings, pool renovation and volunteer achievements
Summary
City recreation staff reported on completed and upcoming projects including the 1st Hill Playground opened under the 2022 levy, an upcoming Dean's Children's Park presentation, Merry Waite Pool renovations (about $4 million, ~$2 million from King County Parks), and substantial volunteer contributions in 2025.
Recreation Manager Ryan Daley gave the Parks and Recreation Commission a multi-part staff briefing on Jan. 13 covering park repairs, playground completions and community events.
Daley said an art installation gateway at Aubrey Davis Park was damaged in October; the city filed an insurance claim and is developing a restoration plan in coordination with the Arts Council. He announced that the 1st Hill Playground is ready for play and noted it is the second playground completed under the 2022 parks levy, featuring a 20-foot climbing structure and other new equipment.
Daley reported progress on Dean's Children's Park site planning and the Clark and Groveland joint infrastructure plan, including youth engagement and community survey input. He said the preferred site plan and report for Dean's Children's Park will be presented to the commission at its Feb. 5 meeting.
On maintenance, Daley described storm-related debris removal from Lake Washington, periodic boat-launch closures for safety, restroom painting work, trail repairs, drinking-fountain replacements and athletic-field preparation for spring. He credited volunteers for 2025 accomplishments: 74 events in 15 parks, "1,000 plus" volunteers contributing over 2,000 hours, 44,000 square feet of weeds removed, 54 cubic yards of mulch spread and planting more than 1,000 trees and shrubs.
Daley also highlighted community events from December, a new city-owned art show on display through Feb. 27 (with a reception Jan. 21), and renovations at Merry Waite Pool — a project Daley described as about $4,000,000 with $2,000,000 from King County Parks that improves ADA access and viewing areas and should extend the facility's useful life by an estimated 10–15 years.
Commissioners asked operational questions including whether the rowing facility idea factors into Clark/Groveland plans (Daley said the rowing club had not identified those sites) and whether the city can provide shuttle transport for community-center program participants (Daley said resource constraints prevent providing shuttle service but offered to work with individuals).
