September Updates on Project Design and Construction

After the preferred pickleball court configuration was approved on July 18, staff have been working to finalize the design and construction timeline for the sport courts renovation at Luther Burbank Park.

Engineering consultants have visited the site to assess opportunities for installing lighting at the courts. Staff are awaiting the results of this assessment to determine whether to add the construction of lighting infrastructure (conduits and junction boxes) into the project.

Additionally, staff confirmed permitting needs for this project. A significant design question has been how to provide construction access to the site, as the project requires delivering heavy equipment and hot mix asphalt (HMA) onto the courts. To overcome the site’s access challenges, the design team proposed cutting a construction road into the hill at the south end of the facility. This construction road would then be returned to a seeded gravel path, which would create a new access path from the Luther Burbank parking lot to the courts’ existing southern gate.

Building the proposed construction road requires significant grading, and the design team has learned that this work requires additional geotechnical assessment before submitting for permits. Staff are coordinating that work now, while also exploring alternatives for construction access.

What does this mean for construction?

The sport courts renovation is budgeted in the 2023-2024 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), with design slated for 2023 and construction scheduled for 2024. Knowing this project is important to the community, staff tried to accelerate the process by constructing in two phases, starting with asphalt paving this fall. The additional permitting requirements and the fact that asphalt paving requires dry weather (rain and HMA do not mix!) means that construction will begin in 2024 as originally planned in the CIP.

The renovated courts are on track to open by next summer, and the courts will remain open for pickleball play until construction begins. Additional play options are available at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. See the schedule here.

Another update will be shared on Let’s Talk when permit applications have been submitted. In the meantime, leave your questions here, or reach out to staff directly with needs. Thanks for following along with this process!