Open Space Conservancy Trust

The Mercer Island Open Space Conservancy Trust is a board of volunteer citizens appointed by the City Council to oversee open space properties placed in the trust as passive, low-impact recreational open space (park).  The Trust manages these properties to protect, maintain and preserve them as natural, scenic and recreational resources, maintaining all their ecological, scenic, aesthetic, scientific, and educational attributes for the current and future residents of Mercer Island in perpetuity.

The Trust was established by ordinance on February 10, 1992 (amended May 6, 1996). Open space is defined by the ordinance as a property of potential natural or scenic resources that has been reserved by the Mercer Island City Council for passive and low impact forms of use, such as walking, jogging, and picnicking.  Currently the Trust owns and oversees the management of Pioneer Park and Engstrom Open Space.

The seven members meet as needed (usually every other month starting in January). See below to download the Trust's bylaws.  The Trust is staffed by the Parks and Recreation Department.

The Open Space Conservancy Trust plays an instrumental role in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department to create, coordinate and implement letterboxing. Learn more about letterboxing.