Mercer Island recreation staff say summer camps, events exceeded goals; nearly 1,200 campers and ~$79,000 in camp revenue

City recreation staff told the Parks and Recreation Commission on Oct. 1 that the 2026 summer season exceeded several participation and revenue targets. Chris, a staff presenter, said the city hosted 11 partner camps over nine weeks — seven returning and four new — and had just under 1,200 camper registrations.

"We had just under 1,200 campers registered, for, this summer across all of those 11 camps," Chris said. Staff reported the department’s $60,000 revenue goal for camps was exceeded by just over $19,000, with the city taking in about $79,000 in camp revenue under the department’s contractor model.

Staff also highlighted participation in other programs: the senior social seminars reached about 60 attendees at the September session, and new offerings (including a morning Mahjong club) have begun to grow. Presenters credited improved online booking and scheduling for higher utilization and easier customer access.

The presentation noted staff are near full staffing after a period of interim titles and departures and that planning for the 2027 season will begin soon. Commissioners asked follow‑up questions about capacity and how the PROS planning process could address service gaps such as teen programming.