Roanoke Park Playground Replacement

Design and coordination continue to replace aging equipment and make site improvements at Roanoke Park. This post provides an update on work completed to-date.

Permitting

In mid-March, staff and the design team met with Permitting and confirmed that this capital project will require additional geotechnical assessment and a Critical Areas Review 1. Additionally, the design team adjusted the site layout and ADA parking space location to avoid potential tree impacts from grading and other site work during construction. Permit applications were submitted on June 4, with an anticipated review time of 6-10 weeks.

Final Site Plan. The design team adjusted the play area layout and moved the ADA parking space to minimize tree impacts. This rendering also shows the color scheme selected for play equipment.

Ordering Play Equipment

New play equipment is being provided by two play manufacturers:

• Landscape Structures Inc.: 2-5 Play Structure, Swings
• Berliner: 5-12 Net Climber, Cone Spinner

Staff ordered the play equipment in April, and delivery is anticipated in late summer. Like in other industries, both play manufacturers are experiencing production and shipping delays, resulting in long lead times for play equipment delivery. The design team maintains regular contact with both manufacturers and updates the City as delivery timelines improve.

Construction Timing

The City plans to contract with Allplay Systems, a Northwest-based playground provider, to install new play equipment and complete site improvements, which include accessible playground surfacing and a new ADA parking space. Allplay is finalizing the proposed scope of work now, and staff anticipate completing contracting needs this summer. Based on permitting and equipment delivery timelines, construction likely will not begin until September. The playground will remain open until the project is ready to break ground.

Another project update will be posted once permits are approved. In the meantime, contact Sarah Bluvas, CIP Project Manager, at sarah.bluvas@mercerisland.gov with project questions.

Thank you to the community members who provided final feedback for the design of the Roanoke Park Playground Replacement. This project has progressed into permitting, beginning with a pre-app meeting with the Community Planning and Development department (CPD) to confirm permitting needs. Berger is also ordering the new playground equipment now to get ahead of potentially long lead times. Staff aim to complete construction in late spring/early summer (depending on equipment and other supply chain timelines).

Stay tuned to Let's Talk for another update when playground construction begins!

Thank you to the community members who participated in the Roanoke Playground Virtual Public Meeting on January 30! This post provides an overview of the meeting and shares details about one more opportunity to provide feedback about the playground replacement. View the meeting recording here, and read the Q&A from the meeting here. (Please note: The questions and responses posted on Let's Talk have been edited for clarity, brevity, and grammar. When relevant, more information has been added to the response. Hear responses provided at the meeting beginning at 25:03 in the video recording.)

Playground Equipment Survey Results

The City received 158 responses to the playground equipment survey open December 20, 2023-January 12, 2024. Here are highlights from the survey results:

Climbing structure preferred by 54% of survey respondents.

• 99% (156 of 158) of respondents said they do or will visit Roanoke Park.
• Most respondents were interested in playground equipment for 2-5 year-olds (42%) and 5-12 year-olds (38%).
• Respondents were evenly split between preferring standard belt swings (51%) and basket swings (49%). *Keep reading for an opportunity to give more input about swings!
• Most respondents preferred a cone spinner (72%) to an open saucer spinner (28%).
• Additionally, a little more than half (54%) of respondents preferred the climbing structure presented as Option A in the survey (pictured right). Community members liked the climbing ramp; that this structure looked complex and unique; and that it has good height and versatility/variety.

Updated Site Plan

The Berger team used the survey results to refine the conceptual site plan, which was presented during the meeting. Pictured below, the proposed site plan:

• Features swings, a cone spinner, the preferred climbing structure, and a new play structure for ages 2-5;
• Adds an accessible parking space and accessible pathway to/throughout the play area;
• Relocates the existing seating area to take advantage of natural shaded areas on the site; *Keep reading for an opportunity to give more input about site amenities!
• And fences the play area along West Mercer Way to increase safety.

Refined site plan presented on January 30.

Questions or comments for the updated site plan? Use the Post a Comment tool to share your thoughts or send them directly to Sarah Bluvas, CIP Project Manager, at sarah.bluvas@mercerisland.gov.

Provide More Input for Swings and Amenities!

During the meeting, City staff and the consultant team from Berger Partnership asked three questions to collect more input on swing styles and site amenities. The same questions have been posted on Let's Talk to provide community members who missed the meeting the opportunity to comment.

Take the 3-question survey here:

https://letstalk.mercergov.org/roanoke-park-playground-replacement/surveys/public-meeting-follow-up-2

Responses will be collected through Friday, February 9, and will be combined with those received during the public meeting to inform the final site plan and equipment selection.

Thank you to all the community members who completed the survey on Roanoke Park playground equipment. The City received more than 150 responses! Another opportunity to provide feedback is coming up later this month.

Virtual Public Meeting on Roanoke Park Playground Equipment

Tuesday, January 30 | 6pm

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AeoQP4yATheKAJFsFSDD0Q#/registration

Gather the kids in your life, and join City staff and the team from Berger Partnership to hear more about levy-funded playground replacements, review the Roanoke Park survey results, and give additional feedback on updated concepts for Roanoke Park. Registration is not required but is encouraged.