Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Partial Demolition Quote
SAINT EDWARD STATE PARK IS UNDER SIEGE!
CITIZENS FOR ST. EDWARD STATE PARK
City of Kenmore Plan: The City considers the Seminary building an “icon” that must be saved. This obsolete building which has sat largely vacant since 1976 will be leased for 62 years to Daniels Real Estate on January 5, 2017, to convert it into an 85,000 square foot corporate conference center, hotel, spa and restaurant. The lease has no significant monetary value to Washington State Parks. Much of the building’s exterior is architecturally unexceptional; the interior is austere and unremarkable. It was a men’s dormitory not an iconic structure such as a church or cathedral. A hotel/spa will draw many people to the park who would not otherwise visit bringing needless congestion and commerce to a passive park.
Citizens Plan: To better honor the park and the seminary which was the home of unspeakable horror at the hands of some of the Catholic clergy who later served in the community, Citizens For Saint Edward State Park proposes that the Park Commission open the dormitory wing to the sky, retain its footprint and create a structured open space or a castle ruin. The north tower and wing could be saved for a tenant who can serve park visitors or be opened to the sky. Many variations are possible; the picture above is an example.
Kenmore Ball Field Plan: The City wants to lease for 30 years from State Parks what is now a multi-use grass field. Uses include some scheduled sports, family recreation and overflow parking in dry weather. Kenmore will build 2 artificial turf fields and provide lighting for a $5,000 year lease. The overflow parking and much casual use will end. 
Citizens Plan: Don’t build it. Leave the field alone. The park is over-loaded on weekends now.
Parking: Some visitors cannot find parking now. City of Kenmore scheduled league play will displace regular park visitors.
Traffic: Most weekends it now takes 3 light cycles to leave the park. Eight sport teams rotating through will make this situation worse. The City of Kenmore should bite the bullet and acquire play fields elsewhere if this is important.
IF YOU OBJECT TO INTENSE DEVELOPMENT IN THE PARK, CONTACT:
WA State Parks & Recreation Commissioners and Director Don Hoch commission@parks.wa.gov
National Park Service, Heather Ramsay, heather_ramsay@nps.gov
WA State Recreation, Conservation, Kaleen Cottingham, Director, Kaleen.Cottingham@rco.wa.gov
WA State Department of Commerce, Amber Siefer – amber.siefer@commerce.wa.gov
St. Edward State Park was acquired by the State of Washington in 1976 with Federal Funds to be a passive park; with quiet undeveloped forests and meadows. The City of Kenmore has been planning for some time to “wrest” control of the park from the state. Under the Kenmore plan the property will be much less a state park and much more a Kenmore urban complex with a hotel and developed athletic fields with artificial turf.
SURPRISING PARK USER SURVEY
In a recent survey of Park Users it became clear they are in strong disagreement with the Park Planners about the best plans for the seminary building.
The results:
69% liked a Castle Ruin.
28% liked a Fence with Plantings in front.
26% liked the Hotel.
Citizens For Saint Edward Sate Park is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the peace and tranquility of our park. This park does not require the trappings of modern life to be successful; it should be preserved as a wild place bringing sanctuary, in an intensely developed urban area. This wild park in our urban environment should be protected and preserved.
Contact Us:
Email: infoatc4sep@gmail.com
Phone: (206) 920-2024
I am a life time resident of Kenmore and opose any development of St. Edwards park the building, buildings should be torn down and the space turned back to nature except for matinence and a education building with rangers quarters.
Then why did some of your members work to get this “unremarkable” building where “unspeakable horrors” took place advocate for its placement on the national historic register?
Regarding the ballfields, your organization had previously stated that the ballfields would infringe on wetlands creating environmental issues. Now you say ballfields will prevent the area from being used for overflow parking. So parking cars in close proximity to (or even on) those wetlands isn’t an environmental concern?
It is time to stop being hypocritical.
You state the these developments will bring “needless commerce and congestion to a passive park.” Unfortunately, St. Ed’s is not a “passive park.” It is a recreational park. It hosts Summer concerts, bike races, trail runs, etc. If you truly want to advocate for a passive park, then advocate for the elimination of all recreational activity and see what happens to support for your obstruction of any park improvements.