Mercer Island group holds ‘red zone’ rally to protect parks

September 21, 2017 11:05 am
Islanders float red balloons to demonstrate the scale of the proposed Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA) in Mercerdale Park. Photo courtesy of Robin Russell
Islanders float red balloons to demonstrate the scale of the proposed Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA) in Mercerdale Park. Photo courtesy of Robin Russell

Concerned Citizens for Mercer Island Parks (CCMIP) held a “red zone rally” on Sept. 9 at Mercerdale Park.

Group members anchored 36-inch red balloons to the 270- feet front edge of the proposed Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA) and floated them 35 feet high to show how tall the development would be. Red danger tape marked the 112 trees and other structures that would be taken down as part of the project.

The rally was organized to show residents the visual impact of the planned building and to educate them about the effect such a private development will have on the closest public open space to Town Center, said Robin Russell, event chair.

According to CCMIP, more than 100 people signed cards to the Mercer Island City Council, stating that “open spaces and public parks are part of what makes [Mercer Island] special,” and asking council members not to “give away part of Mercerdale Park to be the building site of a private building.”

CCMIP’s next event will be a community engagement and action forum, titled “Renew, Reuse, Re-purpose,” from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Sept. 23 at the Mercer Island Library. For more, see www.protectMIparks.org.