With help of community donors, Mercer Island completes Island Crest Park renovation

In other city news, Islanders can now comment on the TIP and enjoy larger 630 shuttles.

January 18, 2018 12:45 pm
The city hosted a rental at the updated Island Crest Park last week. Synthetic turf was installed in the outfield of the north field, and 30-year-old lights and wood poles were replaced with a more efficient LED light system on new steel poles. Photo courtesy of the city of Mercer Island
The city hosted a rental at the updated Island Crest Park last week. Synthetic turf was installed in the outfield of the north field, and 30-year-old lights and wood poles were replaced with a more efficient LED light system on new steel poles. Photo courtesy of the city of Mercer Island

City finishes Island Crest Park project

Last week, the city announced that the Island Crest Park sportsfield rehabilitation project was complete, hosting the first rental on the new synthetic, all-weather turf that is now illuminated by updated and efficient LED lighting. A grand opening is scheduled for mid-March.

Many supporters, funders, community members and city staff came together to make the project possible after bids for a project to install new turf and lights on the south field at ICP came in much higher than expected last spring.

The Mercer Island City Council voted unanimously to reallocate those funds to the north field, which sports groups called a “win-win solution,” and also decided to use an organic sand and cork infill instead of crumb rubber. Grants and community donations totaled over $700,000, representing about 30 percent of the entire budget of $2.3 million.

Island Crest Park is used for many sports activities, including baseball, soccer, football and even ultimate frisbee, but the drainage issues on the old field forced the Mercer Island High School baseball team to play many games away from home last year.

“Many users will be able to imagine how wet the old turf would’ve been after Thursday’s intense rainstorm,” according to a post from Ross Freeman, city communications manager.

The field will also feature a new scoreboard funded by the MI Baseball Boosters Club.

Six-year transportation program update underway

Mercer Island and other cities in Washington State are preparing annual updates to their six-year transportation improvement programs, known as a “TIP.”

The TIP includes roadway, pedestrian and bicycle projects planned for 2019-2024. The process of updating Mercer Island’s TIP includes opportunities for the public to provide input. This year, the public comment period runs from Jan. 22 to Feb. 12.

Those who are interested in learning more about the TIP, viewing the TIP adopted by the City Council last year or submitting an online comment for consideration in the 2019-2024 TIP, should visit the city’s TIP webpage at www.mercergov.org/Page.asp?NavID=1430.

The council will hold a public hearing on the draft TIP at its April 3 meeting, to receive public testimony. Interested individuals may appear and provide input at the hearing, or provide written comments in advance via the TIP web page. The TIP is scheduled for adoption on May 1.

Contact Transportation Engineer Casey Nelson at 206-275-7655 or casey.nelson@mercergov.org with questions.

Big year for city’s food pantry

Among the wide range of community programs offered by the city’s Department of Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) is a food bank located in the Administration Building in Luther Burbank Park. The Food Pantry serves only qualified Island residents who are in need, and usage increased by 27 percent during 2017.

The pantry depends on volunteer workers and donations from food drives to keep the shelves stocked.

“It is amazing to see how committed groups of caring community members can come together and make a difference in the lives of Islanders facing food insecurity,” said MIYFS Director Cindy Goodwin.

MIYFS extends sincere appreciation to all of the people and organizations who have made this possible over the past 12 months, and is thankful for a collaborative gleaning program with New Seasons Market, and for being selected as their “Hunger Relief at the Register” partner.

To host a food drive collection or for more information, contact Kim Richards at kim.richards@mercergov.org or call 206-275-7754.

Larger buses added to popular commuter Route 630

Route 630 buses just got bigger, as the the older 19-passenger buses have been replaced by new heavier-duty vehicles with eight more seats.

Based on user feedback, in September 2017 this popular Metro line was extended an extra 20 blocks to the south end’s Mercer Village Shopping Center Park and Ride, which has 17 vehicle stalls. In addition, some schedule chokepoints around Town Center were eliminated.

The Route 630 bus service runs during the morning and evening rush-hour directly from Mercer Island to Seattle and back, and is funded jointly by Metro and the cities of Mercer Island and Seattle.

See the 630 schedule at www.mercergov.org/files/Route630_Timetable.pdf. See www.mercergov.org/Page.asp?NavID=3188 for more information on commuting.

A diagram of larger buses on Route 630. Courtesy image

A diagram of larger buses on Route 630. Courtesy image