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Mercer Island recreation division reports record rental revenue, new rowing pilot and capacity pressures
Summary
City staff reported strong increases in facility bookings and revenue (May rental revenue $102,788), described a new Mercer Island Rowing Club summer pilot at Luther Burbank Park with about 100 enrolled and 550 on the interest list, and warned the community center and athletic fields are near capacity.
City parks staff told the Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Commission on June 4 that the recreation division saw record rental revenue and rising program demand in 2025 and early 2026, and described a new volunteer-run rowing pilot starting this month.
"This past May, we generated $102,788 in rental revenue, and that was the highest monthly total ever for this facility," Interim Parks, Recreation and Facilities Director Ryan Daley said during the division’s annual report. Recreation Coordinator Jeremy Jasmine said the MICC recorded about 2,251 bookings and roughly 8,030 booked hours last year, large increases in fitness center use (about 8,300 visits, an increase of 1,700) and higher athletic field bookings.
Lauren Alexander, president and founder of the Mercer Island Rowing Club, told the commission the volunteer nonprofit paid nearly $5,000 in permits and fees and is operating the pilot at a loss to show demand. "We have 550 people on our interest list," she said, and the summer pilot, operating out of a temporary storage tent near the swim beach at Luther Burbank Park, had about 100 islanders enrolled at the time of her remarks and youth camps at capacity.
Staff described a reorganization that consolidated parks, recreation and facilities under one interim director, and said the department is taking a "business-focused" approach to track cost recovery across programs and rentals so that rental revenue helps sustain nonrevenue services. Daley said the department will continue to seek partnerships and fee-waiver options for nonprofits and community programs.
Commissioners asked about staffing, data collection for passive park areas and the bike skills area, and whether the reorganization adds headcount. Daley said positions were reorganized and many roles remain interim, and staff plan to expand reporting in future annual reports to include parks maintenance metrics such as mowing and watering hours.
Daley cautioned that the facility and athletic fields are close to capacity: "This facility is pretty darn close" on desirable hours and staffing, he said, and any expansion of services would require additional staff or leveraging partner organizations.
The commission also heard that MI Rowing Club camps begin June 22 and staff will bring an updated athletic field allocation/use policy for fall implementation.
