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Mercer Island parks commission endorses sport-court policy limiting private reservations
Summary
The Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Commission endorsed a sport-court allocation and use policy that prioritizes drop-in play, allows limited private reservations (staff and commission signaled a two-court-per-location cap and two-hour maximum), and sets private reservation fees at $25 per hour.
The Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Commission on Jan. 13 endorsed a new sport-court allocation and use policy intended to manage growing demand for tennis and pickleball courts while preserving equitable public access.
Recreation Manager Ryan Daley told commissioners the policy keeps drop-in play as the primary use of courts, allows limited permitted reservations for private lessons, programs and special events, and exempts city-coordinated uses and Mercer Island School District sports tied to existing agreements. Daley said the city will implement an online booking system and finalize reservation procedures after the commission’s endorsement.
Commissioners pressed staff on how private reservations would be limited to avoid users effectively booking out courts during high-demand periods. Multiple commissioners proposed explicit guardrails; the commission discussed restricting private reservations to no more than two courts at any given location during designated reservation windows and enforcing two-hour maximum time blocks per reservation. Daley said staff expects to start with only a few hours per week available for private reservations at each site, allow bookings up to 30 days in advance, and monitor outcomes before returning to the commission with a formal review in March.
Daley also said the City Council approved the 2026 fee schedule in December and that private reservation fees will be $25 per hour, consistent with other athletic facility fees. He told commissioners staff will coordinate with partners such as Dink on Mercer Island to refine schedules and publicize reservation opportunities.
The commission voted to endorse the policy by roll call, with Commissioners McCarthy, Hay (Chair Ashley Hay), Markson, Bretman, Cohen and Vice Chair Westberg recorded as voting in favor. The motion was moved by Commissioner McCarthy and seconded by Commissioner Markson.
The policy changes will be finalized by department staff and the department director; staff said they will communicate procedures and reservation windows broadly and return to the commission after one season to report on implementation and any recommended adjustments.
