New Luther Burbank Park Playground Ready for Aug. 31 'Soft Opening'

Mercer Island Parks and Recreation officials say the new Luther Burbank playground is nearing completion and should be partially open to the public this weekend.

Thanks to city funding and a generous grant from the Mercer Island Preschool Association (MIPA), the Luther Burbank Playground was rebuilt this summer after parts of the playground equipment and walkways fell out of compliance with federal Americans with Disabilities (ADA) guidelines, according to Jason Kintner, Mercer Island Parks Superintendant.

The city reports that the play structure was replaced with new equipment, including a zip line, climbing web, improved slides, merry go-round, and safety surfacing.

The construction crews have been working all week to install the final pieces of playground equipment so the equipment would be ready on Saturday, Aug. 31.

"We will open, weather cooperating, open parts of the playground that are usable so kids can start playing on the structure, a 'soft opening'," Kintner said.

A formal "Grand Opening" ribbon cutting ceremony will likely be held in mid-to-late September.

Parts of the walkway, however, will still be closed, and the site landscaping will still need to be completed. 

At a July 1 City Council meeting, Mercer Island Preschool Association (MIPA) co-presidents, Sarah LeClercq and Kim Thomas — who worked with Parks and Recreation staff on the Luther Burbank playground design and equipment selection — presented the Council with a check for $97,872.07 on behalf of MIPA. The amount of the check included over $72,000 in donations and an additional $25,000 from MIPA’s contingency fund for the playground construction.