Parks staff reports trail repairs, bench donation and events; special joint meeting on e-bikes set for Nov. 12

Parks operations manager Sam Harb delivered the department report at the Open Space Conservancy Trust meeting on Oct. 16, outlining maintenance work, volunteer programming and upcoming events.

On maintenance, Harb said crews added rock steps and gravel on a difficult root section in the Pioneer Park Northeast quadrant, installed nonskid surfacing and railing at the Pioneer Park Northeast staircase, decommissioned a redundant trail around a tree in the Northwest quadrant, and installed drain rock and gravel on a muddy section in the Northwest quadrant. Staff are finishing winterization of irrigation systems and leaf cleanups and are completing concrete and asphalt repairs ahead of winter. Roanoke Playground is complete, with a small punch list remaining.

On volunteer programs and events, Harb said the city’s letterboxing program "ran from June to September this year, and we did have 31 completed booklets that were turned in back here at the community center. And all of the...users that completed booklets received a certificate and prize." He listed upcoming volunteer work parties, a mindfulness walk, an Arbor Day celebration at Clark Beach Park and a town‑center trick-or-treat event; the staff webpage is listed as "Mercer Island slash Halloween" for details.

Harb also notified trustees of a special joint Parks & Rec Commission and Open Space Conservancy Trust meeting to discuss e-bikes in the parks and said the meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12. Harb corrected an earlier reference to meeting dates, saying, "I made a slight error when I mentioned the special meeting in November. It's the twelfth, not the seventeenth." Trustees and staff said they expect the Nov. 12 session to produce policy recommendations to send to council.

No budget or regulatory action on e-bikes was adopted at the Oct. 16 meeting; the topic will be the focus of the Nov. 12 joint meeting.