Mercer Island Playground Replacements

In 2022, Mercer Island voters approved a 16-year parks levy, which continued funding for parks operations and maintenance in addition to funding playground replacements and Pioneer Park forest management. These critical levy resources will fund the replacement of 15 playground structures over the next 16 years!

Planning work is underway, and you are invited to get involved and share your ideas. This landing page will provide general updates and opportunities to get involved with this multiyear project. As plans for each playground develop, links to individual playground pages will be added. Playgrounds at Roanoke Park and First Hill Park have been completed and are open for play! Thank you to the community for your continued engagement with and support of these projects.

Click the buttons below to find more information about this multiyear project and playground-specific plans.

Community Survey Update: Provide feedback for Roanoke Park playground equipment!

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An online community survey to share input for the playground replacement at Roanoke Park is now available! This brief survey is open to the community from December 20, 2023, to January 12, 2024, and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Community members are encouraged to take the survey with the kids in your life!

Take the survey here: https://letstalk.mercergov.org/roanoke-park-playground-replacement/surveys/roanoke-play-equipment-survey

The survey was developed based on preliminary concepts that will work with the size, configuration, and access needs at the current playground site. Survey questions cover:
- Types of playground equipment
- How you would use specific types of equipment
- General likes/dislikes of potential playground layouts
Feedback collected from the survey will be used to refine concepts, which will be presented at the virtual public meeting on January 30, 2024, at 6pm. Details for joining that meeting will be shared on Let's Talk and the City website soon.

Thank you for your participation!
Playground Replacements in the 2023-2028 CIP

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The 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) plans for replacement of playground structures in five Mercer Island parks:
- Roanoke Park
- Deane's Children's Park
- First Hill Park
- Aubrey Davis Park Lid B
- Secret Park
This post provides details about the play equipment and needs at these parks as well as updates on where the City is in the planning process. Staff will update this post with new information and links as design and construction progress over the course of the 6-year CIP.

Roanoke Park

The playground at Roanoke Park is the first one slated for replacement. Berger Partnership, the City’s consultant partner leading design and community engagement, is developing a concept that will include site improvements for parking and fencing in addition to play equipment replacement. A community survey to collect input on playground equipment is open December 20-January 12, and the City will host a virtual public meeting on January 30 to review refined concepts and collect feedback to inform the final design. Depending on equipment lead times, this playground replacement should be completed by summer 2024. Learn more and engage in the process here.

Deane’s Children’s Park

A partial playground replacement for Deane’s Children’s Park was planned for 2023 and included the climbing rock, swings, and castle structures. Deane’s is a more complex site, particularly with the addition of the new Bike Skills Area. The opportunity for a holistic approach to the overall design allows for significant ADA and access improvements as well as a more cohesive approach to the playground and picnic shelter area. Berger is working on a sitewide redesign to meet these needs, and staff anticipate that community engagement for this playground will begin in 2024.

First Hill Park

Since the Deane’s design process is being extended, staff are accelerating other playground replacements in the levy schedule, beginning with First Hill Park. The playground at First Hill was originally planned for design in 2025 and construction in 2026. The design includes replacement of the playground structure, resurfacing of the sports court, and potential ADA access improvements. Berger is evaluating the site now, and the City will announce the date for the virtual public meeting on this playground replacement in early 2024. Similarly to Roanoke, construction at First Hill will depend on equipment lead times; staff hope to complete construction by the end of 2024.

Aubrey Davis Park Lid B
The Lid B playground area at Aubrey Davis Park provides a good opportunity for ADA accessibility improvements and will be part of a larger parks CIP project that includes the addition of ADA parking spaces and a restroom facility to support playground and other park users. Design is planned for 2026 and construction in 2027.

Secret Park
Secret Park includes a playground structure, a spinner, and swings. The equipment was installed in 2007 and is aging well; design of the new playground area is planned for 2027 and construction in 2028. Due to the grade and topography challenges at the park site, this playground area is not a good candidate for ADA upgrades.