Signing parks petition jeopardizes YTN’s future | Letter

Published 8:00 am Friday, May 13, 2016

I am writing as a Youth Theatre Northwest (YTN) parent and board member to advocate for the Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA). MICA will be the future home for YTN, but this future is threatened by the Protect Our Parks (POP) petition.

YTN has enhanced our community for 32 years. At a recent performance, I was again impressed by the value of YTN and its importance to the development of children in our community. The students spoke about their experience at YTN during the year as a tribute to their teacher after the show. Every student emphasized the nurturing and supportive environment created at YTN that provided him or her with a safe space to grow and learn.

When I weigh this type of experience and vibrant home-away-from-home created for children against the use of approximately two-thirds of an acre of what is largely concrete (the old recycling center) for MICA’s location, there is no doubt that MICA is the more important resource.

MICA will directly and positively impact the quality of life for many more members of our community. MICA will serve to enhance — not detract — from Mercerdale Park. In addition, greater than 90 percent of Mercerdale Park will remain untouched by MICA’s footprint.

However, we have only one YTN and it is in jeopardy. We have no dedicated space for performing arts on Mercer Island. Musicians, dancers and other artists also need and deserve a community home. I urge my fellow residents to decline to sign: signing the POP petition jeopardizes YTN’s future.

YTN needs MICA to remain viable and to stay on Mercer Island. Please protect our resources that include YTN, our freedom to keep parks open to performing arts and keep YTN on Mercer Island.

Kristina Crothers, MD

Mercer Island