Roanoke Park Playground Replacement
Roanoke Park is a neighborhood park located at 70th Avenue SE and West Mercer Way. The park's playground equipment includes ship-themed climbing structures installed in 2004 as well as swings and a Spinami installed in 2012. All structures will be replaced as part of this playground replacement project, and the site will also be evaluated for ADA/accessibility upgrades as part of the process. Additionally, the Berger Partnership, the City's consultant leading design and community engagement for early playground replacements, is developing a site concept that will include improvements to parking and new perimeter fencing.
Construction of the playground renovation began in February 2025 and is expected to last 3-4 months. Follow along here on Let's Talk for weekly construction updates and photos!
Looking for general information about Mercer Island playground replacements? Find it here: www.mercerisland.gov/playgroundreplacements.
Roanoke Park is a neighborhood park located at 70th Avenue SE and West Mercer Way. The park's playground equipment includes ship-themed climbing structures installed in 2004 as well as swings and a Spinami installed in 2012. All structures will be replaced as part of this playground replacement project, and the site will also be evaluated for ADA/accessibility upgrades as part of the process. Additionally, the Berger Partnership, the City's consultant leading design and community engagement for early playground replacements, is developing a site concept that will include improvements to parking and new perimeter fencing.
Construction of the playground renovation began in February 2025 and is expected to last 3-4 months. Follow along here on Let's Talk for weekly construction updates and photos!
Looking for general information about Mercer Island playground replacements? Find it here: www.mercerisland.gov/playgroundreplacements.
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Missed the public meeting? There's still time to share input!
Share Missed the public meeting? There's still time to share input! on Facebook Share Missed the public meeting? There's still time to share input! on Twitter Share Missed the public meeting? There's still time to share input! on Linkedin Email Missed the public meeting? There's still time to share input! linkThank 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:
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.
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Register for the Virtual Public Meeting on January 30
Share Register for the Virtual Public Meeting on January 30 on Facebook Share Register for the Virtual Public Meeting on January 30 on Twitter Share Register for the Virtual Public Meeting on January 30 on Linkedin Email Register for the Virtual Public Meeting on January 30 linkThank 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.
Project Timeline
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Project Initiation
Roanoke Park Playground Replacement has finished this stage- Site assessment
- Playground equipment + vendor research
- ADA upgrades evaluation
- Draft concepts
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Community Survey
Roanoke Park Playground Replacement has finished this stageOpen December 20, 2023, to January 12, 2024
View draft layout options that will work at the site and provide input on your playground equipment likes and dislikes.
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Virtual Public Meeting
Roanoke Park Playground Replacement has finished this stageJanuary 30, 2023 | 6pm | Register here
See the latest layout options based on the results of the community survey and share more input about equipment selection and layout.
Couldn't make the meeting? Share additional input on swings and site amenities through February 9 here. Responses will be combined with those received during the meeting to inform the final site plan and equipment selection.
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Finalize Design, Order Equipment and Secure Permits
Roanoke Park Playground Replacement has finished this stage -
Playground Under Construction
Roanoke Park Playground Replacement is currently at this stage2025
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Project Complete
this is an upcoming stage for Roanoke Park Playground Replacement
Construction Progress
Q&A from Virtual Public Meeting on 01.30.24
- Heights are an important element of playgrounds. How does the proposed “exciting heights” 5-12 climbing structure compare to the existing playground height?
- Roanoke Park is currently known as the “Pirate Ship” park. Is it possible to maintain this theme or bring in another exciting theme?
- Is the soft surface going to be similar to the surface used at the Mercerdale Park playground?
- For all Mercer Island playgrounds: Are they all designed for all ages, or are some playgrounds designed specifically for 2 to 5-year-olds and others specifically for older kids?
Who's Listening
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Phone 206-275-7864 Email sarah.bluvas@mercerisland.gov