Deane's Children's Park Site Plan
Affectionately known as Dragon Park, Deane's Children's Park is a much-loved community park located mid-Island, next to Island Crest Park. The site features an extensive playground with Kenton's Dragon, a play structure/sculpture created by artist Kenton Pies; a picnic shelter; restrooms; and the new Mercer Island Bike Skills Area (BSA).
Current play equipment was installed in 2005 and 2012 and is planned for lifecycle replacement over the span of the 2022 Parks Levy. During early work on the playground replacement plan, the City identified Deane's Children's Park as a good candidate for ADA improvements and conversion to universal play equipment. In addition to the playground equipment replacement, the park includes a picnic shelter and storage shed at the end of its service life, and the restroom is located outside the play area and not easily accessible. Finally, the Bike Skills area was relocated to Deane's Children's Park in 2023. Given the combination of these planning needs, the City made the decision to pause the playground replacement and pursue the development of a new Site Plan for Deane's Children's Park.
The Site Plan will incorporate universal design principles with a new layout and will aim to integrate the play area, park entrance, restrooms, parking, and picnic shelter more cohesively; improve navigation through the site, including how it coordinates with the Bike Skills area; enhance accessibility; and introduce new, diverse play experiences to the City’s playground system.
Join the City and the Project Team to develop a new Site Plan for Deane’s Children’s Park.
Looking for general information about Mercer Island playground replacements? Find it here: https://letstalk.mercergov.org/playground-replacements.
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Phase I Engagement - Infographic.pdf (129 KB) (pdf)
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Phase I Engagement Summary - Initial Input
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Concept 1 - The Quest - Survey Enlargement.jpg (8.39 MB) (jpg)
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Concept 2 - Woodsy Wonders - Survey Enlargement.jpg (1.22 MB) (jpg)
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Phase II Engagement Summary - Design Concepts
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Preferred Site Plan.pdf (1.35 MB) (pdf)
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Preliminary Site Plan.pdf (1.95 MB) (pdf)
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Approved Site Plan
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Chief of Operations
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Deputy Public Works Director
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It makes me sad that progress and accommodation must come with destruction. This is a beautiful park often used by other than children. Please scale it back to retain the natural feel while making it inviting to all users.
This is SO COOL! The Tower Combination is the clear standout, but I also love:
* the Songbird and Howler
* The log steppers
* The Fallen Log
* The Wobble Bridge
At other playgrounds, my kids love the WeSaw and the swings (although I would request more standard swings in place of the specialized ones). I also love how much music there is in this.
I already come here often because it's a mile from my house, but once completed, I will absolutely be coming more.
Nice work!
Keep the Dragon/Castle theme to this park in the new playground equipment- it's perfect!
Please don't cut the trees in this park!! This is one of the few shaded parks in the area and it is loved because it is located in the middle of the forest!
Thank you for the opportunity to submit a survey. I had an idea come to me after submitting and wanted to share it here. Given the already natural vibe at Dragon Park, including he bike skills area, it would be amazing build on that and create a natural playground. Companies exist that specialize in this, and they are accessible. At the very least, the climbing portion of the park could be replaces with a natural climbing structure. I am not affiliated, but wanted to share the resource I came across: Bienenstock Playgrounds