It’s been a long road for the seven-member Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Commission over the last two years as it started, paused due to the pandemic and then resumed devising the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan project.
Less than two months after presenting the final draft of the plan to city council, the PROS Plan was adopted by council at its March 1 meeting. Council also appropriated $750,000 from the available balance in the Capital Improvement Fund for athletic field design, joint master planning for Clarke and Groveland beaches, and the Mercer Island Community and Events Center Annex facility assessment.
“The city extends gratitude to the Parks and Recreation Commission for the time and effort they have given over the past two years on this important project, as well as the Arts Council and Open Space Conservancy Trust for their support,” reads a city press release.
The six-year guide and strategic plan is focused on managing and enhancing parks, open space, trails, arts and recreation opportunities for Islanders, according to the city’s Let’s Talk platform. Public Works chief of operations Jason Kintner said in his introductory PROS Plan message that at the core of the plan is a recommended $41.7 million Parks Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
“This is the largest Parks CIP in City history and reflects the urgent need to address many critical community infrastructure projects,” he added.
At the Jan. 18 city council meeting when the commission revealed its final draft, Kintner said the city targeted a March adoption so it can be eligible for Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grants. Next up on the city’s docket will be filing the plan with the state RCO and commence work on projects identified for immediate action.
As noted in a previous Reporter story, some of the commission’s takeaways from the process that it took into consideration when devising the plan included: Residents’ consistent, strong support for replacing docks and piers; improving maintenance of existing trails; renovating and replacing playgrounds, which they want to include inclusive play; and upgrading/expanding restrooms.
According to the agenda bill information document, after digesting feedback from the Feb. 15 city council meeting, staff added a project to the 2023-2028 CIP that includes $50,000 to determine the feasibility, possible locations, and early design concepts for a spray park within the parks system in 2024.
On Jan. 24, a notice was issued for a non-project State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review of the plan, and a favorable threshold determination of non-significance was issued on Feb. 28.
“The City of Mercer Island, like communities across the world, has experienced significant change not only since the adoption of the previous PROS Plan in 2014, but throughout this Plan’s development during the COVID-19 pandemic. The value Mercer Islanders derive from their parks facilities and open spaces became even more clear, as did the great need to protect and maintain them,” Kintner wrote.
Commission members are chair Jodi McCarthy, vice chair Peter Struck and Don Cohen, Sara Berkenwald, Rory Westberg, Sara Marxen and Paul Burstein. Craig Reynolds is the city council liaison.
“I am so pleased that the MI PROS Plan has been adopted by city council. The Parks and Rec Commission has been deeply involved with putting this plan together for the past two years. It has been a great experience to volunteer with fellow commissioners to help develop this long-term road map for taking care of such a special part of our community,” McCarthy said.
Added Reynolds: “The PROS plan is an outstanding example of resident volunteers working with city staff to create a detailed vision. Islanders are passionate about our parks, and this document will be our guide as we plan for the future of our parks to serve this generation and future generations.”
To view the plan, visit https://letstalk.mercergov.org/miprosplan
