Jared Mead, Snohomish County Council
Bothell, WA – Today, the Mays Pond neighborhood celebrated the grand opening of its fully renovated playground at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at 17730 Brook Boulevard. The new, ADA-compliant playground replaces an outdated and unsafe facility that had served the community since 1990.
The project owes its success to the extraordinary tenacity and advocacy of Vanessa Miewald, a former resident of the Mays Pond neighborhood and now a dedicated community leader. Growing up playing on the old ricketety slide and bent swing set, Vanessa always wished for a safer, more engaging space for local children. As an adult and college student, she took action: launching a door-to-door clothes drive to raise initial funds for preliminary engineering plans and designs.
Vanessa then reached out to local elected officials, including Snohomish County Councilmember Jared Mead and State Senator John Lovick, to secure the necessary support. Her grassroots persistence paid off when $650,000 was allocated in the 2023 Washington State Capital Budget, championed by Senator Lovick and State Representative Brandy Donaghy. Additional support came from a generous $60,000 donation from Maverick Gaming’s Silver Dollar Casino-Mill Creek.
“This playground is proof that one person’s dream, fueled by community spirit and a little help from dedicated leaders like Councilmember Mead and Senator Lovick, can create lasting joy for generations of kids,” said Vanessa Miewald. “Seeing children laugh and play safely here today fills my heart—it’s a reminder that when we come together and never give up, we can build brighter futures right in our own neighborhoods.”
“This is a shining example of what one determined individual can achieve for their community,” said Councilmember Jared Mead. “Vanessa’s vision and relentless advocacy turned a childhood dream into a reality that will benefit generations of kids in Mays Pond. She deserves all the credit for sparking this change and seeing it through.”
The new playground, designed in partnership with PlayCreation and built with community input, features safe, inclusive equipment for children ages 2-12, along with picnic tables, benches, and other amenities. It stands as a testament to collaborative efforts between residents, local government, state lawmakers, and private partners.
The Mays Pond Playground Committee, co-led by Vanessa Miewald and Barb Sleeper, played a pivotal role throughout the multi-year process.
Today’s event marks a proud milestone for the underserved Mays Pond neighborhood and underscores the power of community advocacy in improving local spaces.
