For the past three years, national nonprofit KaBOOM! has named Mercer Island as a “Playful City” for supporting children’s play in the community.

This year, Mercer Island receives the honor along with 117 other communities nationwide.

KaBOOM!, an organization dedicated to promoting play, recognized Mercer Island Parks and Recreation’s work to create Adventure Playground at Deane’s Children’s Park (5500 Island Crest Way) and offer children the opportunity for safe, free play in wooded and natural settings.

At the Adventure Playground, children ages 4 to 13 can dig in the dirt, build forts and play knights and dragons. The playground is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. through August. The city will post fall hours soon. Registration is not required, but parents of first-time participants must sign a waiver before participation. Adventure Playground is free for Mercer Island residents, but costs $2 for non-residents.

For more information, go to www.mercergov.org/outdoorplay.