MIPA Advocacy Efforts Support Island Children and Families

For more than 75 years, MIPA has represented the needs of young families on Mercer Island through its advocacy efforts.

MIPA Advocacy:

• Parks & Playgrounds.  MIPA works with the City of Mercer Island, Friends of Dragon Park, and other community groups to ensure safe and fun parks and fulfilling programs for young children. Parks projects have included new play structures at Deane’s Children’s Park (Dragon Park), Mercerdale Park (Train Park), and Luther Burbank Park.  We have also provided support to the Indoor Playground at the Mercer Island Community Center, Funmobile, Adventure Playground, and more. Starting in 2024, we're part of a group of islanders that are supporting the upcoming playground upgrade at Deane's Children's Park. 
• Emergency Preparedness.  MIPA has coordinated with the City of Mercer Island’s Emergency Preparedness Program to ensure that preschools and childcare organizations have current emergency plans and supplies to shelter children for up to seven days. 
• PTAs. MIPA is proud to be the first, only, and model PTA of parents with children 0-6 in Washington State. As a Washington State PTA, we join 140,000 PTA parents as a very strong advocate for children and families. There are seven PTAs on Mercer Island:  MIPA, Lakeridge Elementary, Northwood Elementary, West Mercer Elementary, Island Park Elementary, Islander Middle School, and Mercer Island High School.  The Mercer Island PTA Council provides connection between the PTAs.  MIPA gains insight to opportunities, issues, and initiatives across the schools; and then MIPA gives visibility to parents of young children so that their voices are included. 
• Legislative Priorities.  Every year as the legislative session begins, PTA members join together to influence greater education priorities set at the state level. You can learn more about the advocacy efforts in the legislature and our statewide priorities here.  MIPA is involved with PTA representatives from across the state as the top five issues the PTA will push in the coming legislative session are determined.  The latest are the 2023-2024 Legislative Priorities. MIPA provides the contacts for Islanders to provide their position on legislation. You can also sign up for alerts to provide your feedback here.

What have MIPA’s advocacy efforts accomplished?

• Nursery School.  MIPA launched the Island’s first nursery school in 1942 – two years before the first kindergarten began on Mercer Island.
• Kindergarten.  MIPA helped fund the Island’s first kindergartens along with associated supplies.  MIPA also advocated and raised funding for teacher training.
• Elementary School.  MIPA advocated for the offering of world-language classes – first for preschoolers and then for students at the elementary schools.
• Library.  MIPA helped select the property location and raised funding for the building of the library.
• Enrichment Activities.  MIPA contracted teachers to offer drama, art, babysitting, and safety classes to Mercer Island families. Most of these classes are now standard offerings by the Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Department.
• State PTA and Education.  Legislative Representatives work with other PTAs on Mercer Island as well as across the state on issues varying from junk food in schools, allergies, kindergarten class size, and special needs.
• Indoor Play Space.  MIPA worked with the Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club and the Mercer Island Community Center to establish ongoing sessions for drop-in play during the rainy months.
• Playgrounds.  MIPA provided funding for the Mercerdale Train Park (2022, also known as Train Park) provided that the playground would be accessible and inclusive.  The city's policy is now that all playground upgrades will be accessible and inclusive.