Joint Commission Meeting to review 30 Percent Design

A joint meeting of the Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Commission and the Mercer Island Arts Council will discuss a draft 30% design on Thursday, June 1, 2022. The consultant, KPG Psomas developed the proposed design with input from the Parks and Recreation Commission at its April 2022 meeting. Features of the design include system wide improvements such as signs, pavement markings and landscaping along with more extensive site features at three priority areas or "nodes" at the restrooms, the 72nd Ave overpass, and the West Mercer Way trail crossing. An initial cost estimate puts the total improvement construction at $783,000. The plans as presented have grouped improvements into three "schedules" of work. The base schedule A provides what the design team believes are the highest priority improvements according to safety and user needs. Schedule A is estimated to cost $350,000 which is the available construction budget. Schedules B and C are additional improvements that would also significantly contribute to traffic calming and user satisfaction but would require additional funding. The Parks and Recreation Commission will provide feedback on whether the schedules contain the right prioritization of project elements.

At the same meeting, the two bodies will consider what artistic "placemaking" elements could be incorporated into the project. They will discuss the types and extent of these creative elements that could foster understanding and cooperation among different types of trail users.