In 2022, Mercer Island voters approved a 16-year renewal of the parks levy, which continued funding for parks operations and maintenance in addition to funding playground replacements. The first playground scheduled for replacement is at Roanoke Park, and Islanders are invited to provide input about the type of playground equipment desired through a new survey. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete and community members are encouraged to take it with the kids in their lives.

The survey is open through January 12. Questions cover the types of playground equipment, the use of different equipment, and general likes/dislikes of potential playground layouts. Responses will be used to refine playground concepts that will be presented to the community at the virtual public meeting on January 30. Learn more about this project on Let’s Talk.  

Don't miss it: join City staff for our next Winter Workshop event focused on non-native weedy plants, happening tomorrow, January 4. You’ll learn why we remove certain plants from our parks and why we encourage residents to remove them from their properties as well. You'll also get a demonstration on how to reuse removed plants by weaving baskets from ivy and blackberry, plus you'll have time to weave your own! The event takes place Thursday, January 4, from 5:00pm - 6:30pm at the Community and Event Center.

As part of King County’s North Mercer-Enatai Sewer Upgrade Project, about 2,000 feet of sewer pipe is being installed along the bottom of Lake Washington, connecting Mercer Island to the Bellevue side. Specialized divers are working to install the pipe (in water as deep as 40 feet) which is part of several miles of pipe being replaced across the area. The new pipe will connect to a pump station near the Mercer Slough in south Bellevue that brings wastewater to the County’s South Treatment Plant in Renton.

You can watch a video of the underwater installation and learn more about this project on the County's website.