Council adopts Deane’s Children’s Park site plan

Published 12:25 pm Thursday, April 9, 2026

After a robust discussion with numerous residents on hand, Mercer Island City Council voted 6-1 to approve the Deane’s Children’s Park site plan focused on accessibility and inclusion at its April 7 regular meeting.

Councilmember Craig Reynolds cast the lone vote against the long-range plan, which was adopted with some amendments. In all, 21 people spoke for and against the plan during the public appearances portion of the meeting.

Plan amendments include the full extension of the accessible path to Island Park Elementary as part of phase one and to relocate some Forest Surprise elements.

The Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Commission approved the proposed site plan on Feb. 5 and sent it to the council for a review and vote, the latter of which was originally set for the council’s May 5 regular meeting.

Deane’s Children’s Park, located at 5701 Island Crest Way, is widely known as “Dragon Park.” The park features outdated playground equipment and doesn’t meet ADA standards, according to the city, which added that the picnic shelter is deteriorating and the restroom must be replaced.

With vital input from more than 1,200 Island elementary students during Deane’s Children’s Park presentations last school year — along with recommendations from residents at community events and The Friends of Dragon Park, Mercer Island Preschool Association (MIPA) and Outdoors for All — the city identified priorities for park improvements and design concepts.

City documents state that the site plan “will focus on inclusive play, which is a play-for-all approach to ensure that children with all abilities have the opportunity to play and recreate together.”

According to the city, its comprehensive approach on the project ensures the park is modernized to meet universal play standards and provide a more cohesive and accessible experience while preserving the park’s woodland character. The city added that the plan is driven by ADA requirements, community priorities and the need to plan the park — which is adjacent to the Bike Skills Area — as a whole.

With the adoption, park improvements will take place in phases and include additional design work, funding decisions and city council approval before construction commences.

The site plan will expand the pieces of play equipment from eight presently to 32 in three types of play zones aimed at children ages 2-5, 5-12 and a blended area for ages 2-12-plus. Deane’s will feature low-lying, developmentally appropriate equipment that supports early strength, balance and coordination and more challenging play opportunities, the city said. The 5-12 play zone will feature an approximately 30-foot-tall climbing tower with a slide. Other play features include swings, climbers, slides, spinners and more.

The city notes that preliminary construction costs for play equipment and other features total $7,270,000, not including $650,000 in extra opportunities such as play components along trails, a play structure within the glen, and natural features like boulders and logs along accessible and adaptive routes.

Funding sources include the city’s Capital Improvement Program Fund, the 2022 city of Mercer Island Parks Levy (which includes $426,490 for playground replacement at Deane’s), the 2025 King County Parks Levy, and grants and private donations, according to the city.

Public comments

At the council meeting’s public comment period, several residents spoke about the park plan.

Courtney Hampson said she appreciates the plan’s focus on “specific spaces supporting younger kids so they have access to play on equipment as well.”

Jill Hawkins added: “Let’s find a creative path forward, one that preserves the integrity of our forest while ensuring that every child and adult — regardless of their mobility — can experience the wonder of the ‘Dragon.’ Please let’s build a park where the only thing we’re losing is the barriers.”

Kim Florence said that people want a more accessible and inclusive “Dragon Park” that maintains its magic and beauty, but, “The city council should amend the proposed site plan to address the unrealistic budget, the tripling of impervious surfaces and the phasing of this plan.”

Eric Timmreck said that kids love the park and it could use some updates. He added that people he’s spoken with are against the site plan because of the rubberization of the play surface and the paths, the price tag, the 10- to 20-year timeline and more. “The net takeaway is that it’s not popular enough at this point to approve a plan like that,” he said.

There were plenty of opinions on both sides of the issue and comments were voiced by youths and adults at the podium.

During an amendment portion of the park site plan discussion, City Manager Jessi Bon noted, in part: “I just want to remind you that this playground is about inclusivity. We did hear a lot of comments tonight about people that love the park the way it is, and I can tell you I love it the way it is, too. I also walk in on two feet every day. I have kids that aren’t faced with challenges. So I hope we’re also remembering the voice of the people that aren’t enjoying our parks because that’s what’s been guiding us. The folks that were here in the wheelchairs that said they can’t enjoy the park.”

In a lengthy comment regarding the main motion, Councilmember Reynolds said, in part: “I absolutely am a big fan of making the playground more accessible. There’s no doubt that that’s a huge priority and something we definitely have to do. I love parks, these are all great things. I’m also struggling looking at the finances of this and I worry. I feel like we’ve made a mistake by giving the parks commission authority to recommend a design without giving them a budget. And we’ve got a plan for something right now, and I realize the city manager has and will say that this is a plan, not a budget, and I get that. But they’ve come up with a plan which is extraordinarily expensive, and we’re a city that is facing huge challenges in the need to replace our public safety and maintenance building (and facing other large deficits).”

Reynolds added that he thinks adopting the plan is sending the wrong message to the community right now.

Councilmember Wendy Weiker said that it’s a plan, a vision and an inspirational goal to reach.

“This is the good stuff. This is going to outlast us and outlast the city staff and be a legacy for kids and family members and grandparents and grandkids to come out of the shadows and be in the playground. We have lots of able-bodied kids that can go anywhere on this Island and play. This playground is a jewel and a gem. We all love it. We’ve all raised our kids here. I absolutely am 100% behind staff and our parks commission on this. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create an accessible park for everyone to play in. And I’m so proud of the work that’s been done on the community outreach, on the planning, and as we’ve seen from Aubrey Davis (Park), if you put a plan together, you can go get it funded. You can get it built,” she said.