John Hamer

Special to the Reporter

A large and enthusiastic crowd of several hundred people gathered on July 9 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially opened the newly renovated Mercerdale Park playground. It was the lead-off event of Summer Celebration.

City Manager Jessi Bon welcomed the crowd and introduced members of the city council, parks commission, city staff and others who worked on the project. Mayor Salim Nice thanked all those who helped make it a reality, including members of the Mercer Island Preschool Association (MIPA) and Rotary Club of Mercer Island, who helped raise funds to support the new playground. Then the mayor cut the ribbon to applause and cheers.

This is the first accessible and inclusive playground on the Island, with a soft surface and ramps suitable for children in wheelchairs as well as others with mobility challenges, including aging parents and grandparents. The playground was crowded all day with children and families enjoying its new features.

Ford Parks, a 6-year-old boy who is in a wheelchair due to a rare genetic disorder, was cited by Bon and Paul West of the city staff for helping inspire the new playground. His parents Effie and Casey Parks noted that Ford could not use the old playground because of its bark-dust surface and inaccessible play equipment.

The new playground was the result of extensive planning by city staff working with a group of citizen volunteers from MIPA and Rotary. The city approved an increased budget for the project to meet higher standards of accessibility and inclusivity. Northwest Playgrounds of Issaquah designed the new playground.

The playground includes sensory-friendly features such as a drum set, a xylophone stand, a spinning maze and other amenities in addition to wheelchair ramps, wide slides and sheltered areas. The park’s signature train, the “M.I. Express,” is popular with kids who can climb on its roof by ladder or on a “coal car” behind the engine. The train was designed exclusively for what has long been known as “Train Park.”

Several city officials and engaged citizens expressed hope that all playgrounds on the Island can be brought up to similar standards in the years ahead as the city’s PROS (Parks Recreation and Open Space) planning process proceeds. A parks levy is expected to be on the November ballot.

Children and adults get in some play time at the newly renovated Mercerdale Park playground on July 9. Photo courtesy of Terry Lee