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.

The City has contracted with American Ramp Company (ARC) to design a new Bike Skills Area at Deane’s Children’s Park. Over the next few months, ARC, City staff, the Parks & Recreation Commission, and the community will collaborate to develop the 30% design for a new facility. Stay updated and get involved with the process by following along here on Let’s Talk.

Looking for background information on this capital project? Read our "Why Design a New Bike Skills Area?" post below, or visit our Let's Talk page for the Bike Skills Area at Upper Luther Burbank Park.

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

Do you have questions about this project? Submit them here, and staff will provide a response.

Share Where exactly is the footprint? Specifically, I would like to confirm that this bike project will not impact the lovely open space west of the baseball fields that goes down to 84th Ave SE. This is the only open space within walking distance of my home and it would be a shame to lose it. There are signs about this project at the entry points to that portion of the park, which worries me that the footprint is not in fact confined to the area north of the tennis courts. on Facebook Share Where exactly is the footprint? Specifically, I would like to confirm that this bike project will not impact the lovely open space west of the baseball fields that goes down to 84th Ave SE. This is the only open space within walking distance of my home and it would be a shame to lose it. There are signs about this project at the entry points to that portion of the park, which worries me that the footprint is not in fact confined to the area north of the tennis courts. on Twitter Share Where exactly is the footprint? Specifically, I would like to confirm that this bike project will not impact the lovely open space west of the baseball fields that goes down to 84th Ave SE. This is the only open space within walking distance of my home and it would be a shame to lose it. There are signs about this project at the entry points to that portion of the park, which worries me that the footprint is not in fact confined to the area north of the tennis courts. on Linkedin Email Where exactly is the footprint? Specifically, I would like to confirm that this bike project will not impact the lovely open space west of the baseball fields that goes down to 84th Ave SE. This is the only open space within walking distance of my home and it would be a shame to lose it. There are signs about this project at the entry points to that portion of the park, which worries me that the footprint is not in fact confined to the area north of the tennis courts. link

Where exactly is the footprint? Specifically, I would like to confirm that this bike project will not impact the lovely open space west of the baseball fields that goes down to 84th Ave SE. This is the only open space within walking distance of my home and it would be a shame to lose it. There are signs about this project at the entry points to that portion of the park, which worries me that the footprint is not in fact confined to the area north of the tennis courts.

Randizzle asked almost 2 years ago

The new Bike Skills Area will be located in the northwest quadrant of Deane’s Children’s Park, in the former Adventure Playground site. Two new bike park access trails are also planned for this project: one will be located to the west of the Island Crest Park tennis courts and the other will be located in the northeast quadrant of Deane’s Children’s Park, creating a connection between the start hub of the new bike park and Island Crest Way.
Share What considerations are being made for potential increased biking activity within Island Crest Park? There are several steep areas and blind curves within the park that are potential safety hazards for bikes coming in contact with other park users, including the elderly, families, children and pets. It's been said that bicycles are currently allowed within the park, but clearly the quantity will increase significantly with the additions of the BSA. Potential significant environmental degradation of the trails and major safety concerns need to be addressed as part of the planning process (beyond the current suggestion of posting signs). on Facebook Share What considerations are being made for potential increased biking activity within Island Crest Park? There are several steep areas and blind curves within the park that are potential safety hazards for bikes coming in contact with other park users, including the elderly, families, children and pets. It's been said that bicycles are currently allowed within the park, but clearly the quantity will increase significantly with the additions of the BSA. Potential significant environmental degradation of the trails and major safety concerns need to be addressed as part of the planning process (beyond the current suggestion of posting signs). on Twitter Share What considerations are being made for potential increased biking activity within Island Crest Park? There are several steep areas and blind curves within the park that are potential safety hazards for bikes coming in contact with other park users, including the elderly, families, children and pets. It's been said that bicycles are currently allowed within the park, but clearly the quantity will increase significantly with the additions of the BSA. Potential significant environmental degradation of the trails and major safety concerns need to be addressed as part of the planning process (beyond the current suggestion of posting signs). on Linkedin Email What considerations are being made for potential increased biking activity within Island Crest Park? There are several steep areas and blind curves within the park that are potential safety hazards for bikes coming in contact with other park users, including the elderly, families, children and pets. It's been said that bicycles are currently allowed within the park, but clearly the quantity will increase significantly with the additions of the BSA. Potential significant environmental degradation of the trails and major safety concerns need to be addressed as part of the planning process (beyond the current suggestion of posting signs). link

What considerations are being made for potential increased biking activity within Island Crest Park? There are several steep areas and blind curves within the park that are potential safety hazards for bikes coming in contact with other park users, including the elderly, families, children and pets. It's been said that bicycles are currently allowed within the park, but clearly the quantity will increase significantly with the additions of the BSA. Potential significant environmental degradation of the trails and major safety concerns need to be addressed as part of the planning process (beyond the current suggestion of posting signs).

Mbirtel asked almost 2 years ago

The City is considering several measures to mitigate safety risks on the trails in Island Crest Park, including clearing vegetation to improve sight lines; promoting trail stewardship/education; and improving trailhead visibility/awareness on 84^th Ave SE. Progress updates will be shared here on Let’s Talk.
Share It sounds like the 75K is for design, not construction. So how much is this expected to cost to construct? Where will that money come from? on Facebook Share It sounds like the 75K is for design, not construction. So how much is this expected to cost to construct? Where will that money come from? on Twitter Share It sounds like the 75K is for design, not construction. So how much is this expected to cost to construct? Where will that money come from? on Linkedin Email It sounds like the 75K is for design, not construction. So how much is this expected to cost to construct? Where will that money come from? link

It sounds like the 75K is for design, not construction. So how much is this expected to cost to construct? Where will that money come from?

Jon Hanlon asked almost 2 years ago

Yes, on July 19, 2022, the City Council voted to authorize $75,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund to design a new Bike Skills Area at Deane’s Children’s Park. Staff included $302,500 to construct the facility in 2023 in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which was adopted as part of the 2023-2024 Budget on December 6, 2022. The full construction costs will be determined when the design is complete and the project goes out to bid; staff anticipate taking the project to bid for construction in Spring 2023.
Share Without a Parks' levy, there will be no Bike Skills Area, is that correct? Where is the money coming from to pay for the consultants and how much is it costing? And if this Bike Skills is linked to the Parks' levy and the levy does not get passed, what then? Does the project get shelved? on Facebook Share Without a Parks' levy, there will be no Bike Skills Area, is that correct? Where is the money coming from to pay for the consultants and how much is it costing? And if this Bike Skills is linked to the Parks' levy and the levy does not get passed, what then? Does the project get shelved? on Twitter Share Without a Parks' levy, there will be no Bike Skills Area, is that correct? Where is the money coming from to pay for the consultants and how much is it costing? And if this Bike Skills is linked to the Parks' levy and the levy does not get passed, what then? Does the project get shelved? on Linkedin Email Without a Parks' levy, there will be no Bike Skills Area, is that correct? Where is the money coming from to pay for the consultants and how much is it costing? And if this Bike Skills is linked to the Parks' levy and the levy does not get passed, what then? Does the project get shelved? link

Without a Parks' levy, there will be no Bike Skills Area, is that correct? Where is the money coming from to pay for the consultants and how much is it costing? And if this Bike Skills is linked to the Parks' levy and the levy does not get passed, what then? Does the project get shelved?

fletchsa1 asked about 2 years ago

The funding for the bike skills area is not tied to the Mercer Island parks levy. On July 19, 2022, the City Council voted to authorize the use of $75,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund balance to begin design of a new bike skills area facility at Deane's Children's Park (5-0-1). More details available here: https://letstalk.mercergov.org/bike-skills-area-at-upper-luther-burbank-park/news_feed/city-council-allocates-funding-for-design-of-bike-skills-area-at-deane-s-children-s-park
Share I was under the impression that the city would re-open the existing bike skills area while you worked on relocating it. What happened to that plan? on Facebook Share I was under the impression that the city would re-open the existing bike skills area while you worked on relocating it. What happened to that plan? on Twitter Share I was under the impression that the city would re-open the existing bike skills area while you worked on relocating it. What happened to that plan? on Linkedin Email I was under the impression that the city would re-open the existing bike skills area while you worked on relocating it. What happened to that plan? link

I was under the impression that the city would re-open the existing bike skills area while you worked on relocating it. What happened to that plan?

BonnieG asked about 2 years ago

In order to re-open the Upper Luther Bike Skills Area, the site would require substantial input to address current issues, including drainage, jump design, and professional construction. At their April 26, 2022 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the merits of reopening the Upper Luther Bike Skills Area site and ultimately voted to "reopen the current Bike Skills Area in Upper Luther Burbank Park in a limited fashion…. predicated on the City finding an alternative location that could be brought online within 2-3 years." However, at their meeting on July 7, 2022, they voted to "rescind the previous recommendation… to establish an interim Bike Skills Area in Upper Luther Burbank Park pending identification of a permanent alternative site."
At that meeting, Commissioners also voted to "recommend that the City Staff request funding from the City Council for a Bike Skills Area 30% Design project, to be located at Deane's Children's Park in the general area previously identified as Adventure Playground."
This request was brought to the City Council on July 19, 2022, and $75,000 was appropriated for developing a 30% design for a new bike skills area in Deane’s Children’s Park. Council did not appropriate funds nor request that staff work toward re-opening the Upper Luther BSA during the development of the new bike skills area.
Share Is the local non-profit trail building organization Evergreen being consulted? https://www.evergreenmtb.org/about They have such an extensive successful track record for building projects like this around WA and would be a potential valuable resource to support a project like this? As a parent of two kids on the island that like to ride bikes we hate that we have to drive to other (often Evergreen built/managed) areas off island to ride as a family. on Facebook Share Is the local non-profit trail building organization Evergreen being consulted? https://www.evergreenmtb.org/about They have such an extensive successful track record for building projects like this around WA and would be a potential valuable resource to support a project like this? As a parent of two kids on the island that like to ride bikes we hate that we have to drive to other (often Evergreen built/managed) areas off island to ride as a family. on Twitter Share Is the local non-profit trail building organization Evergreen being consulted? https://www.evergreenmtb.org/about They have such an extensive successful track record for building projects like this around WA and would be a potential valuable resource to support a project like this? As a parent of two kids on the island that like to ride bikes we hate that we have to drive to other (often Evergreen built/managed) areas off island to ride as a family. on Linkedin Email Is the local non-profit trail building organization Evergreen being consulted? https://www.evergreenmtb.org/about They have such an extensive successful track record for building projects like this around WA and would be a potential valuable resource to support a project like this? As a parent of two kids on the island that like to ride bikes we hate that we have to drive to other (often Evergreen built/managed) areas off island to ride as a family. link

Is the local non-profit trail building organization Evergreen being consulted? https://www.evergreenmtb.org/about They have such an extensive successful track record for building projects like this around WA and would be a potential valuable resource to support a project like this? As a parent of two kids on the island that like to ride bikes we hate that we have to drive to other (often Evergreen built/managed) areas off island to ride as a family.

TGray asked about 2 years ago

The City has been in touch with the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance over the last few years regarding the bike skills area and will continue to be in contact with them during this design process! They are a great asset in the area.
Share What does it mean to "develop a 30% design?" Is the bike park to occupy 30% of Deane's Park? Or are they only starting with a preliminary design; ie doing a 30% sketch before moving forward to develop a 100% design? Could not find a reference to this in the other comments. Thanks so much. on Facebook Share What does it mean to "develop a 30% design?" Is the bike park to occupy 30% of Deane's Park? Or are they only starting with a preliminary design; ie doing a 30% sketch before moving forward to develop a 100% design? Could not find a reference to this in the other comments. Thanks so much. on Twitter Share What does it mean to "develop a 30% design?" Is the bike park to occupy 30% of Deane's Park? Or are they only starting with a preliminary design; ie doing a 30% sketch before moving forward to develop a 100% design? Could not find a reference to this in the other comments. Thanks so much. on Linkedin Email What does it mean to "develop a 30% design?" Is the bike park to occupy 30% of Deane's Park? Or are they only starting with a preliminary design; ie doing a 30% sketch before moving forward to develop a 100% design? Could not find a reference to this in the other comments. Thanks so much. link

What does it mean to "develop a 30% design?" Is the bike park to occupy 30% of Deane's Park? Or are they only starting with a preliminary design; ie doing a 30% sketch before moving forward to develop a 100% design? Could not find a reference to this in the other comments. Thanks so much.

CF7939 asked about 2 years ago

Design development typically follows an iterative process: common milestones are 30%, 60%, 90%, and 100% design. After the development of each, the City has the opportunity to provide feedback and request changes, which incorporates public input. The 30% design will be a conceptual level design, capturing the main elements and basic layout of a bike skills area in response to the general project scope and any limitations/restrictions given to the design consultant.
Share Is the bike park part of the park levy? on Facebook Share Is the bike park part of the park levy? on Twitter Share Is the bike park part of the park levy? on Linkedin Email Is the bike park part of the park levy? link

Is the bike park part of the park levy?

MBaxter asked about 2 years ago

No, the funding for the bike skills area is not tied to the Mercer Island parks levy. More information about the parks levy and what it would fund is available here: https://letstalk.mercergov.org/parks-levy-renewal