New Bike Skills Area at Deane's Children's Park

This project is complete. Please visit the Bike Skills Area page on the city website for maintenance, closure, and other information. 

• Community Members Provide Additional Design and Safety Input

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  Last month, the City hosted two informal working sessions to collect additional community input on Bike Skills Area (BSA) design elements and surrounding trail safety. Each meeting is summarized below.

  
  

  Meeting on BSA Design – March 21, 2023 | 4pm

  On March 21, 12 community members joined staff and consultants to review the latest design, walk the BSA site, discuss preferences for wood vs. dirt features, and share any other feedback to help make the new BSA an attractive facility for Mercer Island bikers. Highlights from the discussion include:

  • The BSA will be a destination hangout: Kids will cycle in and out, and the site will be great for beginners.
  • Riders are open to wood features: The group supported trying out the wood banked turn, seeing how it rides, and exploring needs for skid resistance later. Riders are ok with wood features that don’t have gaps between wood and soil.
  • Kids want to help steward the facility: The group wants to see the facility staked out before construction begins, and kids are also interested in opportunities to help with the installation in some way.

  Participants were also supportive of adding a pump track to the facility, which they feel would open use of the facility for use by all ages and wheels – roller blades, scooters, bikes, etc. A pump track was considered early in the design process, but the current site does not have enough space to accommodate a pump track and the jump/return lines also requested by the community.

  
  

  
  

  Meeting on Island Crest Park Trail Safety – March 28, 2023 | 4pm

  The second session took place on March 28. Ten neighbors of Island Crest Park met with staff and consultants to further discuss concerns about safety and shared use on the Island Crest Park trails. The group discussed the trailhead entrance adjacent to the tennis courts, walked a few trails in Island Crest Park, and reviewed three trailheads along 84^th Ave SE. Key points from the meeting include:

  • Neighbors want to see the City proactively address safety issues in Island Crest Park: Early actions could include studying trail usage before the BSA opens and improving sight lines throughout the trails.
  • Safety concerns are not limited to trailheads: Concerns were voiced that bikers will expand outside of the BSA and into Island Crest Park to find more areas to ride, creating conflicts between riders and walkers.
  • A physical barrier at the BSA trail entrance is preferred: Some neighbors continued to advocate for a trailhead stile or other gate to require BSA riders to dismount, slow down, and read trail etiquette signage before entering the Island Crest Park trails.

  The group also discussed ways to educate and train users on proper trail etiquette, such as building off existing bike programs & camps and coordinating trail stewardship with the Mercer Island Mountain Bike Team.

  
  

  
  

  What comes next?

  American Ramp Company continues to finalize the BSA design, and the City will share updated visuals on Let’s Talk when available. Other next steps include:

  • Consulting the City’s Transportation Engineer about safety concerns at the Island Crest Park trailheads on 84^th Ave SE.
  • Conducting counts in Island Crest Park to establish a baseline for trail usage before BSA construction begins.
  • Sharing more signage package examples with the community.
  • Continuing to consult with WCIA, the City’s insurance provider, on the BSA design and safety measures.
  • Securing project permits, including completing the SEPA process.
  • Coordinating volunteer events to prepare the BSA site for construction.

  
  

  Continue to follow along here on Let’s Talk!

• City Council Approves 30% Design

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  On March 7, 2023, Mercer Island City Council approved the 30% design for the Bike Skills Area. The design is the result of more than four months of community engagement to refine the concept, including two community meetings, two online surveys, and three regular Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) meetings.

  Now the City is coordinating additional conversations with specific community groups to refine elements in the design, such as identifying additional measures to mitigate user conflicts on the surrounding trails in Island Crest Park.

  City staff will continue to update Let’s Talk as this project progresses. Thanks for continuing to follow along!

• City Council to Discuss 30% Design on March 7

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  Tomorrow night, staff will present the 30% design for a new Bike Skills Area (BSA) at Deane's Children's Park to City Council. View agenda packet materials here. Details for watching and/or speaking at the meeting are provided below.

  The hybrid meeting will be broadcast live on MITV Channel 21 and live streamed on the City Council’s YouTube Channel.

  Registering to Speak: Individuals wishing to speak live during Appearances must register their request with the City Clerk's Office at 206.275.7793 or email the City Clerk and leave a message before 4:00 PM on the day of the Council meeting. Please reference "Appearances" on your correspondence and state if you would like to speak either in person at City Hall or remotely using Zoom. Each speaker will be allowed three (3) minutes to speak. A timer will be visible in Council Chambers and online to speakers, City Council, and meeting participants. Please be advised that there is a time delay between the Zoom broadcast and the YouTube or Channel 21 broadcast.

  Public Appearances: Notify the City Clerk in advance if you will be providing your comments in person at City Hall or remotely using Zoom. If providing your comments using Zoom, staff will be prepared to permit temporary video access when you enter the live Council meeting. Please remember to activate the video option on your phone or computer, ensure your room is well lit, and kindly ensure that your background is appropriate for all audience ages. Screen sharing will not be permitted, but documents may be emailed to Council.

  Join by Telephone at 5:00 PM (Appearances will start sometime after 5:00 PM): To listen to the meeting via telephone, please call 253.215.8782 and enter Webinar ID 892 8137 7148 and Password 730224 if prompted.

  Join by Internet at 5:00 PM (Appearances will start sometime after 5:00 PM): To watch the meeting over the internet via your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Click this link.
  2. If the Zoom app is not installed on your computer, you will be prompted to download it.
  3. If prompted, enter Webinar ID 892 8137 7148, Password 730224.
  4. The City Clerk will call on you by name or refer to your email address when it is your turn to speak. Please confirm that your audio works prior to participating.

  Join In-Person at Mercer Island City Hall at 5:00 PM (Appearances will start sometime after 5:00 PM): Council Chambers, 9611 SE 36th Street

  Submit Written Comments: Email written comments to the City Council at council@mercerisland.gov.

• Parks & Recreation Commission Approves BSA 30% Design

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  On February 2, the Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) voted to approve the 30% design for a new Bike Skills Area (BSA) facility at Deane’s Children’s Park (3-2, 2 absences). The final draft of the 30% design was developed with community feedback collected from two community meetings, two online surveys, and three PRC meetings. Now the approved 30% design will be presented to the City Council on March 7. Details for joining the City Council meeting will be shared here when available.

  During the next stages of the design process, a few elements will continue to be studied. These include selecting the preferred location for the bike park entrance path and identifying additional measures to mitigate user conflicts on the surrounding trails in Island Crest Park. Staff will continue to engage the community in resolving these design elements, so stay tuned here on Let’s Talk for more opportunities to provide feedback.

• Parks & Recreation Commission Discusses Updated Design on Feb. 2

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  UPDATE: The recording of the 02.02.23 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting is available here. The discussion and approval of the 30% design for the BSA begins at approximately 53:00.

  Mercer Island's Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) will discuss the updated conceptual design of a new Bike Skills Area at their upcoming meeting this Thursday, February 2, at 5:00pm. During the meeting, the PRC will review the input received during the community meeting held on January 24 and the final draft conceptual design. Agenda materials are available here; the final draft of the conceptual design will be available by January 31.

  Details for attending the meeting are available below.

  
  

  Register to Speak: Individuals wishing to speak live during Appearances must register their request with the staff liaison at 206.275.7861 or email to raven.gillis@mercerisland.gov before 4pm on the day of the PRC meeting. Please reference "Appearances" in your correspondence and state if you would like to speak either in person at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center or remotely using Zoom. Each speaker will be allowed three (3) minutes to speak.

  
  

  Join by Telephone at 5:00pm: To listen to the meeting via telephone, please call 253.215.8782 and enter Webinar ID 825 9108 6996, Password 896196 when prompted.

  
  

  Join by Internet at 5:00pm: To watch the meeting over the internet via your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82591086996?pwd=OWUrR0xEbHoxZkNGSmR4dnpjN0VVUT09#success
  2. If the Zoom app is not installed on your computer, you will be prompted to download it.
  3. If prompted, enter Webinar ID 825 9108 6996, Password 896196

  
  

  Join In-Person at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center at 5:00pm: The meeting will be available for you to watch live remotely from the Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street.

  
  

  The meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the City's YouTube channel. We will update this post when the video recording is available to view.

• Provide feedback on the updated design at our next community meeting!

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  Join us on January 24, at 6pm, for the next community meeting to discuss the conceptual design for a new Bike Skills Area (BSA) facility on Mercer Island. During this virtual meeting, we'll review the updated design and then break out into small groups for more discussion and feedback. Details, including the link to register via Zoom, are provided below.

  BSA Community Meeting #2

  Tuesday, January 24, 2023 | 6-7:30pm | Virtual via Zoom

  Register to participate: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsc-ihqDssGdJxiLjbL5lSNa2ar6NqWoyg

  View the updated conceptual design here: https://letstalk.mercergov.org/17636/widgets/57117/documents/38590

• Parks & Recreation Commission to Discuss Updated Design on Jan. 5

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  UPDATE: The recording of the 01.05.23 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting is available here. The discussion of the BSA conceptual design begins at approximately 22:47.

  Mercer Island's Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) will discuss the updated conceptual design of a new Bike Skills Area at their upcoming meeting this Thursday, January 5, at 5:30pm. The updated design is based on feedback provided by the PRC during its December meeting as well as responses to our second Community Survey (199 responses received). During the meeting, the PRC will receive a summary of survey results and review the updated design. Agenda materials, which include the updated conceptual design, are available here.

  Details for attending the meeting are available below.

  
  

  Register to Speak: Individuals wishing to speak live during Appearances must register their request with the staff liaison at 206.275.7861 or email to raven.gillis@mercerisland.gov before 4pm on the day of the PRC meeting. Please reference "Appearances" in your correspondence and state if you would like to speak either in person at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center or remotely using Zoom. Each speaker will be allowed three (3) minutes to speak.

  
  

  Join by Telephone at 5:30pm: To listen to the meeting via telephone, please call 253.215.8782 and enter Webinar ID 825 9108 6996, Password 896196 when prompted.

  
  

  Join by Internet at 5:30pm: To watch the meeting over the internet via your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82591086996?pwd=OWUrR0xEbHoxZkNGSmR4dnpjN0VVUT09#success
  2. If the Zoom app is not installed on your computer, you will be prompted to download it.
  3. If prompted, enter Webinar ID 825 9108 6996, Password 896196

  
  

  Join In-Person at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center at 5:30pm: The meeting will be available for you to watch live remotely from the Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street.

  
  

  The meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the City's YouTube channel. We will update this post when the video recording is available to view.

• Community Survey #2 - Provide input on the BSA concept design

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  On December 1, the Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) received the concept design for a new Bike Skills Area (BSA) at Deane's Children's Park. (Video - Discussion begins at 30:20) Now we want to hear from you about the proposed design! Review the concept and provide feedback via our brief survey.

  
  

  
  

  Take the survey here:

  https://letstalk.mercergov.org/bike-skills-area-design/survey_tools/bsa-concept-design-survey

  
  

  This second community survey will be available through December 31 and will inform updates to the proposed BSA design, which will be shared with the community in January. We will also announce more opportunities to provide feedback, including the date for our next community meeting, soon here on Let's Talk.

• Parks & Recreation Commission to Discuss BSA Design on Dec. 1

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  UPDATE: The recording of the 12.01.22 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting is available here. The discussion of the BSA conceptual design begins at approximately 30:20.

  Mercer Island's Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC) will discuss the conceptual design of a new Bike Skills Area at their upcoming meeting this Thursday, December 1, at 5:30pm. The conceptual design is based on survey responses and general feedback collected during the first community meeting. The conceptual design is available to view here: BSA Concept Design for Discussion (12.01.22)

  The virtual meeting will be broadcast live on Zoom as well as posted on the City Council's YouTube channel after the meeting. Agenda materials for the Bike Skills Area agenda item are available here. (Note that this post will be updated when the conceptual design is available.)

  Details for attending the meeting are available below.

  Register to Speak: Individuals wishing to speak live during Appearances must register their request with the staff liaison at 206.275.7861 or email to raven.gillis@mercerisland.gov before 4pm on the day of the PRC meeting. Please reference "Appearances" in your correspondence and state if you would like to speak either in person at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center or remotely using Zoom. Each speaker will be allowed three (3) minutes to speak.

  Join by Telephone at 5:30pm: To listen to the meeting via telephone, please call 253.215.8782 and enter Webinar ID 825 9108 6996, Password 896196 when prompted.

  Join by Internet at 5:30pm: To watch the meeting over the internet via your computer, follow these steps:

  1. Click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82591086996?pwd=OWUrR0xEbHoxZkNGSmR4dnpjN0VVUT09#success
  2. If the Zoom app is not installed on your computer, you will be prompted to download it.
  3. If prompted, enter Webinar ID 825 9108 6996, Password 896196

  
  

  Join In-Person at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center at 5:30pm: The meeting will be available for you to watch live remotely from the Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street.

• Provide input through our Community Survey!

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  Our first Community Survey for a new Bike Skills Area is live! Feedback from this survey will facilitate a conceptual bike skills area design that will be presented to the community and the Parks and Recreation Commission in December. Your input on potential features for the bike skills area will help us create a design that meets the goals of the community, including riders and non-riders alike.

  
  

  Take the survey here:

  https://letstalk.mercergov.org/bike-skills-area-design/survey_tools/bsa-community-survey-nov

  
  

  The survey includes 25 questions. To advance to the next question page, make sure you complete your responses and then click the button that says "Save & Continue."

  Please provide your input by November 21, when the survey closes. Thank you for participating!