The Mercer Island Recreation Division told the Parks and Recreation Commission on May 1 that it achieved 70% overall cost recovery in 2024, expanded community center bookings and drop‑in participation, and secured new multi‑year grants to support community events.

Recreation Supervisor Katie Herzock said the division recorded 1,874 facility bookings in 2024 totaling just under 7,500 hours and expanded programs, drop‑in sports and fitness room use. "We did achieve 70% overall cost recovery," Herzock said, noting that the division also implemented online athletic‑field booking, temporary rules for Luther Burbank pickleball courts and broader use of civic forms to process sponsorships and applications.

Key statistics and grants: staff reported a team of 18 full‑time and part‑time employees augmented by seasonal hires; program highlights included 102 picnic rentals, 70 athletic field renters (an 18% increase in hours and 16% increase in bookings from 2023), and 36 private park events in 2024. The division also won a King County for Culture grant of $44,000 per year for three years (2025–2027) and a $20,000 grant from the Mercer Island Community Fund to support community events.

Programs and facilities: the Mercer Island Community and Events Center increased drop‑in sports participation and fitness room use. The pea patch community garden grew to 64 participants under revised rules and staff management. Summer camps are run by contracted vendors; staff said registrations are strong in 2025 after a decline in some camps in 2024. Jeremy Jasmine, recreation coordinator, presented program details and usage charts during the meeting.

Operational notes and issues: staff described occasional capacity constraints—some large rentals have required canceling drop‑in activities when parking reached capacity. Herzock and staff said they are balancing rental revenue with public programming and will continue to explore scheduling and outreach to encourage carpooling and alternative transportation. The city is also coordinating with its emergency manager on regional impacts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including potential traffic, parking and event date changes.

Public events and rights: staff confirmed two First Amendment events were permitted in 2024, and staff said they handle rally and procession requests as park reservations. Commissioners asked for follow‑up on park maintenance reporting and trail investments; staff said they will coordinate with parks maintenance to provide a parks summary or update for the commission in 2025.

Looking ahead: King County Library System will present an annual update at the June commission meeting; commissioners were asked to submit questions for KCLS to staff by May 12. Staff said community center rentals and athletic field bookings are tracking on pace or exceeding 2024 levels for 2025.