Neighbors on Mercer Island will be taking the time to get to know each other, and discuss community issues like crime prevention and emergency preparedness, tomorrow August 4th, 7 to 10 pm. They will be participating in Mercer Island’s Second Annual National Night Out.

Twenty- three neighborhoods are hosting events around the island. People will participate in block parties, cook outs, and youth activities. Visits from police and local officials have been scheduled. Mercer Island’s Emergency Preparedness Officer, Jennifer Franklin ( jennifer.franklin@mercergov.org ), helped coordinate this year’s island police and city official visits to interested neighborhoods.

Last year’s participation rate was good, considering it was Mercer Island’s first coordinated National Night Out. Fifteen neighborhoods hosted events in 2008. One community member reported that approximately 30% of households in the Boulevard Place and West Mercer Way area gathered together last year to chat and reacquaint themselves with each other.

The groundwork is laid for an even better National Night Out this year. Neighborhood participation is greater— 8 more neighborhood decided to join in the fun. Hopefully more folks will spend a little time to get to know their neighbors better, rekindle friendships and learn how to keep their neighborhoods safer. The Mercer, a controlled access apartment home community on the island, is encouraging residents to turn on their porch lights, lock their doors and take to the street to share an evening together. Cello bags of s’more makings will be passed out by The Mercer to their residents who join in the fun.

It would be great to hear from people who participate in Mercer Island’s Second Annual National Night Out. Please take a moment to post a comment about your experience.

Mercer Island is a great place to live and, as it turns out, a terrific place to play.

KaBoom, a national non-profit group committed to helping promote play through the building of playgrounds, honored Mercer Island, along with 93 other cities, with a spot on their Playful City 2009 list.

Each year, KaBoom creates a list of cities committed to promote play for children in their communities. Playful City USA built a specific agenda for increasing play in a community, and cities honored on their list meet the qualifications outlined on the Playful City webpage.

32 of the cities honored by Playful City USA, including Mercer Island, were honored in 2008 as well. One of the actions by Mercer Island that helped the city secure the repeated honor is the creation of the Destination Recreation program by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. Two important goals of Destination Recreation: bringing an Adventure Playground to the island community and refining its outdoor recreation program.

Children who’d like to be Destination Recreation Explorers can pick up their “passport to recreation” at either the Community Center or Luther Burbank Parks & Recreation Office. By participating in events, classes and activities, plus visiting recreation areas, Explorers can enter a drawing to win a $500 travel package.

Congratulations Mercer Island for being a Playful City!