Deane's Children's Park Site Plan

We’ve put together a comprehensive FAQ to answer your questions about the Deane's Children's Park Site Plan. Learn more about what a Site Plan is and why we’re completing one, the accessibility improvements, the community input that shaped the design, and specific design details.

Check out the FAQ here!

The proposed Site Plan for Deane’s Children’s Park will soon advance to the City Council for review. Developed through a robust community engagement process between March and September 2025, the plan reflects a shared vision for how this beloved park can grow and evolve. The Parks and Recreation Commission approved the Site Plan on February 5, 2026. It will be reviewed by the City Council on April 7, 2026, with adoption anticipated on May 5, 2026.

This work was shaped by broad community participation, including more than 1,200 Island elementary students, community surveys, an open house, and project booths at six local events. The City also appreciates the partnership of Friends of Dragon Park, Mercer Island Preschool Association (MIPA), and Outdoors for All, whose input helped guide the plan.

The Site Plan also serves as a roadmap, providing a long-term vision for improvements over the next 10–20 years. It offers a flexible framework that allows the City to make phased upgrades as funding and priorities allow, guiding how the park will grow, improve, and remain welcoming for generations to come.

To view the Site Plan, click here.

Getting There & Entrances

Both the main and secondary entrances are designed to be welcoming and easy to use. Each entry includes a small “arrival area” where visitors can pause, rest, and get oriented before entering the playground. These spaces help with wayfinding, provide support for caregivers, and offer a smooth transition into the park’s sensory-rich environment. Clear signage at both entrances supports communication for people of all ages and abilities.

Play Areas for All Ages

The playground is organized into a series of connected areas that support different ages, abilities, and types of play. Near the main entrance, younger children are welcomed with low-height play features, including the Critter Corner and adjacent Discovery Path. This area is designed for early childhood development, with animal-themed and nature-inspired elements that reflect the park’s forest setting.

Low, open play features create clear sightlines (open views across the space), making it easy for caregivers to supervise while creating a welcoming, approachable entry experience. Play elements are arranged in a simple loop to support movement from one activity to the next, while encouraging imaginative, unstructured play.

The accessible 2–5 Discovery Path weaves play into the forest setting. A gently winding path connects a series of ground-level play elements that support social interaction and sensory play (engaging touch, sound, sight, and movement) and leads to Kenton's Dragon.

At the center of the playground, a larger play area includes a wide variety of inclusive and adaptive equipment, designed so children of all ages and abilities can play together. Features include adaptive swings, inclusive spinning and rocking elements, a large log climber inspired by nature, and musical and water-themed play elements that encourage both independent and group play.

An elevated, accessible pathway leads to a play area designed for ages 5–12 and older. The central tree snag-inspired play tower serves as a visual landmark and offers challenges for a range of abilities. Children can climb a spiral net to reach the tallest slide or explore other climbing challenges. A ramp connects the tower to a treehouse pod with a rope bridge, adding more ways to play. At the base, open play features like a hammock swing, activity panel, and flexible play space let kids use their imagination and play in lots of different ways.

Throughout the park, smaller “forest surprise” elements, hidden play features like boulders, logs, and nature-inspired interactive components, are tucked into the landscape to encourage discovery and exploration. These playful features support sensory engagement, invite unstructured play, and create opportunities for social connection, hands-on learning, and active engagement.

Gathering & Amenities

At the heart of the park, a shared gathering area brings people together. This space includes a picnic shelter, restrooms, informal seating, and an accessible loop path that circles the play area for easy movement. Small play berms (gentle mounds) provide places to sit and play, while also helping slow cyclists as they exit the Bike Skills Area. A centrally located communication board supports inclusive interaction among visitors.

Paths & Connections

The Forest Path, the park’s central accessible path, connects all play areas and amenities, making it easy for visitors with mobility needs to fully enjoy the park. This main path also provides flexible options for everyone to explore at their own pace and choose challenges that match their abilities. Adaptive paths, slightly steeper or varied surfaces, also meet playground and trail accessibility standards, giving more ways for kids to move, play, and explore throughout the park. These connections improve access for the surrounding neighborhood and link directly to Island Park Elementary.

Honoring the Park’s Identity

The plan also honors the park’s history and identity. Kenton’s Dragon remains an important and well-loved feature, with improvements planned to preserve it and make it more accessible for future generations. Natural materials, forest-inspired design, and sensory and artistic elements are used throughout the park to create an immersive, nature-based experience that reflects the park’s character.

A Space for Everyone

Overall, the plan balances play opportunities, accessibility, safety, and the natural environment. By combining a wide range of play experiences with thoughtful amenities, it creates a flexible and welcoming space for play, learning, and connection.

Staff presented the Site Plan for Deane’s Children’s Park to the Parks & Recreation Commission at its February 5th meeting. The presentation included a summary of the planning process, the inclusive design principles that guided the design, the primary play zones and play surfacing strategy, parking improvements, and proposed phasing strategy. As part of this meeting, the Commission reviewed the Site Plan and moved to recommend it, as presented, to the City Council for adoption. The Commission also directed the Chair and Vice Chair to develop a hand-off memo, which will be reviewed and approved at their March 5, 2026 Regular Meeting. This hand-off memo will be shared with City Council as part of the Site Plan discussion at the April 7, 2026 City Council meeting. To watch the recording or view the presentation, click here.

Staff presented the Site Plan for Deane’s Children’s Park to the Parks & Recreation Commission at their February 5, 2026, Regular Meeting. The presentation highlighted the planning process, inclusive design principles, key play zones and surfacing strategies, proposed parking improvements, and the phased approach for future construction.

During the meeting, the Commission reviewed the Site Plan and voted to recommend it, as presented, to the City Council for adoption. They also directed the Chair and Vice Chair to prepare a hand-off memo, which will be approved at the March 5, 2026, Regular Meeting and shared with City Council as part of their Site Plan discussion at the April 7, 2026, City Council Regular Meeting.

To view the Site Plan, click here.

To watch the recording, view the presentation, or read the agenda item, click here.

Site Plan - Design Summary

The Site Plan presents a cohesive vision for a forest-inspired, inclusive play environment that welcomes children of all abilities, caregivers, and visitors of all ages. It integrates community input and thoughtful design strategies to create safe, engaging, and accessible spaces. Key features include a central “Forest Path” linking major play zones and amenities, visual landmarks for intuitive wayfinding, welcoming entrances, and a clear circulation system for both playground and Bike Skills Area users.

Play experiences are organized into connected zones that support a range of ages, abilities, and play styles. Younger children enjoy accessible forest-inspired trails, while the central play area offers inclusive swings, adaptive equipment, climbing features, and sensory-rich elements that encourage social interaction and imaginative play. Central gathering spaces include a picnic shelter, restroom, seating, and accessible pathways, while integrated berms and Bike Skills Area features enhance safety and sensory engagement. Cherished elements like Kenton’s Dragon are preserved, and natural materials, forest forms, and art features reinforce the park’s immersive, nature-based character. Overall, the Site Plan balances inclusivity, programming, safety, and environmental context, establishing a flexible framework for meaningful play, learning, and community connection.

Staff presented the preferred Site Plan for Deane’s Children’s Park to the Parks & Recreation Commission at its November 6, 2025, Regular Meeting. The preferred plan builds on the "Woodsy Wonders" concept as the primary framework for the park’s design. Key elements from "The Quest" concept have been retained, including the restroom and picnic shelter, reoriented to improve sightlines and functionality, as well as the sensory “bridge” pathway connecting to Kenton’s Dragon. The design incorporates Kenton’s Dragon into a broader treehouse adventure theme, featuring subtle dragon-inspired elements such as themed activity nodes and playful discoveries, including a dragon’s egg.

The presentation highlighted the inclusive design principles guiding the project, major play features, proposed parking improvements, and a preliminary phasing strategy. Commission discussion affirmed that the Preferred Site Plan reflects community input and is moving in the right direction.

To view the Preferred Site Plan, click here or see Preferred Site Plan.pdf under Documents

To watch the recording or view the presentation, click here.

Phase 1: Gathering Initial Input (April–May 2025)

From April to May 2025, the project team launched the first phase of community engagement to help shape the future of Deane’s Children’s Park. We connected with the community through an online survey, an in-person open house, project booths at local events (MIPA Circus and Leap for Green), and activities at four Mercer Island elementary schools.

This outreach helped us hear from families, children, and longtime park users about what they value most in the park today and their ideas for its future.

What we heard:

• Strong support for inclusive and accessible play features, including improved paths and restrooms.

• Desire to preserve the park’s natural, wooded character.

• Enthusiasm for keeping the park’s dragon legacy alive through imaginative design elements.

• Interest in a unified theme, with Treehouse Adventure and Fairytale Kingdom as top choices.

• High interest in active play features such as swings, climbers, spinners, and ziplines.

• Support for phased improvements, beginning with a new restroom facility, followed by a picnic shelter and access upgrades.

Read the full Phase 1 Engagement Summary here.

Phase 2: Refining the Design Concepts (July–August 2025)

During the second phase of engagement, we shared two draft design concepts—The Quest and Woodsy Wonders—developed in response to what we heard in Phase 1. Community members were invited to share feedback on the overall look, feel, and character of the concepts, as well as specific preferences for types of play equipment.

Outreach included an online survey through Let’s Talk, a discussion with the Friends of Dragon Park, and project booths at community events such as Summer Celebration, Mostly Music in the Park, National Night Out, and Pride in the Park.

What we heard:

• Broad support for Woodsy Wonders as the preferred concept, appreciated for its natural, forested setting.

• Desire to meaningfully integrate Kenton’s Dragon into the updated design.

• Continued enthusiasm for unstructured, imaginative play that fosters creativity and exploration.

• Emphasis on inclusive features for a range of ages and abilities, while preserving the park’s wooded feel.

• Climbing and sliding were the most desired play elements in larger structures, with support for elevated, open spaces that reflect the park’s character.

Read the full Phase 2 Engagement Summary here.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in our recent community engagement activities. Your input, ideas, and perspectives are incredibly valuable and play a critical role in shaping the future of this park! Below is a brief summary of our touchpoints with the community for the second round of outreach:

• July 12: Summer Celebration – project booth
• July 12 - August 12: Online survey live on Let’s Talk
  • Received 72 responses
• July 31: Mostly Music in the Park – project booth
• August 5: National Night Out - project booth
• August 7: Pride in the Park – project booth

The second round of community engagement for the Deane’s Children’s Park Site Plan is now underway - and the deadline has been extended through August 11! Your feedback from the first round of outreach helped shape the preliminary design concepts - and we want to hear from you again. Community input will continue to play a key role in reimagining the park's future. There are four ways to share your feedback on draft park concepts and play features:

• Take the online survey – now open July 12 through August 11 - share your input on preliminary park designs and preferences for different types of play equipment in the park.
• Visit the Deane’s Children’s Park booth at three upcoming community events! Check out early park designs developed from community feedback, and share your thoughts on the look, feel, and character of play structures for the park.
  • Mostly Music in the Park on Thursday, July 31 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at Mercerdale Park (3009 77th Avenue SE)
  • National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5 from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM at City Hall Parking Lot (9611 SE 36th St)
  • Pride in the Park on Thursday, August 7 from 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM at Mercerdale Park (3009 77th Avenue SE)

Your input will help refine these early concepts into one preferred design for the park. The City looks forward to hearing your ideas as we work together to re-imagine Deane’s Children’s Park as an inclusive and welcoming space for all.

Big thank you to everyone who stopped by the Deane’s Children’s Park booth at Summer Celebration - you brought great ideas and let them rawr! Couldn’t make it? No problem! There are still two more ways to share your feedback on the early design concepts:

Your input will help refine these early concepts into one preferred design for the park. The City looks forward to hearing your ideas as we work together to re-imagine Deane’s Children’s Park as an inclusive and welcoming space for all.

The second round of community engagement for the Deane’s Children’s Park Site Plan is now underway! Feedback from the first round of community outreach helped shape the preliminary design concepts - and now we want to hear from you again. Community input will continue to play a key role in reimagining the park's future. There are three ways to share your feedback on draft park concepts and play features:

• Take the online survey – open July 12 through August 4 - share your input on preliminary park designs and preferences for different types of play equipment in the park.
• Visit the Deane’s Children’s Park booth at two upcoming community events! Check out early park designs developed from community feedback, and share your thoughts on the look, feel, and character of play structures for the park.
  • Summer Celebration on Saturday, July 12 from 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM at the Public Works Area on 77th Avenue SE
  • Mostly Music in the Park on Thursday, July 31 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at Mercerdale Park (3009 77th Avenue SE)

Your input will help refine these early concepts into one preferred design for the park. The City looks forward to hearing your ideas as we work together to re-imagine Deane’s Children’s Park as an inclusive and welcoming space for all.