A couple of major developments are planned for Saint Edward State Park. Below you will find a letter from State Parks and Recreation's Bill Koss describing the "evaluation of the proposal for private investment at Saint Edward State Park." The proposal includes a McMenamins restaurant and lodging facility at Saint Edward State Park. Other development plans at the park include a proposed plan for Bastyr University to expand. Read a short description of the proposed plan.

These are important issues for our community. If you want to get involved here are a couple of options:

• DCNA is forming a steering committee that will assess the environmental impact of proposed development and help shape the state’s decisions for the park’s future consistent with DCNA’s mission. Contact Patti Anderson:   pe-anderson@comcast.net   or 425-821-1942 (home).
• Also the Friends of St. Edwards, a community group unrelated to DCNA, has formed to help shape the future of St. Ed’s.  You will find their information, meeting times, and petitions at http://web.wfse.org/savestedward/ .

August 9 2005, Letter from State Parks & Recreation

Previously you contacted state parks about the proposal for private investment at Saint Edward State Park. I want to let you know of the results of the State Parks and Recreation Commission action and the steps that will ensue.

First, you should know that on August 4 the State Parks and Recreation Commission authorized staff to move forward with an evaluation of the proposal for private investment at Saint Edward State Park. The Commission made clear in their approval that this step represented the start of the public involvement process and that the proponent entered into this with no assurance that at the end of it the Commission would approve any private investment in the park.  The Commission did not approve any private investment within the park.

Future public involvement will take place within a framework of preparing a comprehensive plan for all 316 acres of Saint Edward. This plan will cover the variety of current and future topics that can impact the park: the proposed expansion of Bastyr University, possible future widening of the park access road, the proposal to increase use and improve the ballfield, a proposal for private residential access through the park, proposed private investment in the seminary building, and retaining the current experiences the park provides.

The comprehensive planning will likely commence in late September and take 9-12 months. Meetings will be held locally at times convenient for community participation, with the final recommendations presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission, which has authority to approve, modify or deny them.

The letters and emails received identified concerns over the proposal to site a McMenamins restaurant and lodging facility at Saint Edward State parks. Comments specifically mentioned included:

·       Seeking other alternative public uses of the seminary
·       Preserving the wild feel of the park
·       The public received little advance notice of the private investment proposal
·       Desire to not see a marina
·       Traffic on Juanita Drive
·       Belief that the park may be sold
·       Privatization

The comprehensive planning will cover all these points. It bears mentioning that no marina is proposed, nor will any portion of the park be sold.

I appreciate your interest in the park. The fact that so many people took the time to write and express their vision for the park means that people care about the park and will participate in the planning to shape its future.  Your name is added to the mailing list for all future public meetings regarding the park; you will be provided ample notice on all these meetings. Should you have additional questions I can be reached at bill.koss@parks.wa.gov.

Sincerely,

Bill Koss, Manager, Planning and Research

Bastyr Plans Expansion

Bastyr University plans to develop its site to accommodate a growing student population. It plans to purchase from the Seattle Archdiocese approximately 50 acres on and next to its current location on the site of the St. Thomas Seminary within Saint Edward State Park. Beginning in 2006, the University proposes to construct academic buildings, student housing, and medical facilities. You can read the plan here.

Under Alternative 1 of the master plan, construction will include:

• New academic buildings
• Renovation and expansion of the existing St. Thomas building
• Onsite housing for 796 beds (326 units) around the edges of the campus meadow and "in the forested area at the north end of the site"
• A 40,000-square-foot wellness center/conference center at the north edge of the forest and meadow for 60 to 80 patients in residence
• A 20,000 square foot public clinic on the forested property along Juanita Drive

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Accomplishments

DCNA on track with pledge payments
King County purchased the Woodlands as green space largely because we promised to raise $500,000 by January 2008. We contributed an initial $100,000 in early 2004. And in early 2006, we made an additional payment to the County of $200,000, right in line with our commitment. Our community’s ability to work effectively with elected officials depends on our credibility, so we are deeply grateful to all of you who have contributed on behalf of the Woodlands. We’re especially thankful to Woodland supporters who have made multi-year pledges and are continuing to follow-through with annual payments. Pledge reminders will be hitting the mail soon, so please keep an eye open for them. Remember: we still have to raise $200,000 over the next 18 months, so we’re not yet “out of the woods”.

State Senator Fairley Secures Woodlands Funding
DCNA also agreed to help the County find an additional $1.5 million to replenish the Conservation Futures Trust fund, which was used to buy the Woodlands. We’ve met on several occasions with our district’s legislators to explore the possibility of state grants. And we are very pleased to report that State Senator Darlene Fairley secured $275,000 in the state’s 2006 supplemental capital budget for the Juanita Woodlands. The state money that Senator Fairley obtained this year is an important first step in helping the County meet its funding objectives. Hopefully, we’ll be able to obtain additional
state support in the next legislative session, when a full 2 year capital budget will be approved.

How you can help

We are pursuing a number of avenues to save the Woodlands from development. However, because we have less than a year left, most legal or governmental avenues are unlikely to lead to a full solution in time. Consequently, our best hope is for you to donate or pledge funds to help us purchase the Woodlands and secure them as a nature preserve for future generations. You can also help us by volunteering. The DCNA is an active neighborhood association that has been very successful in enacting positive changes in our area, such as developing the salmon ladder on Denny Creek and working with local government to protect and improve O.O. Denny and Big Finn Hill parks. We always need more helpful hands and creative minds. Come meet your neighbors and get involved!

• To email us for more information on how to volunteer, click HERE. (volunteer@juanitawoodlands.org)

For more information about the Save the Juanita Woodlands project, visit www.juanitawoodlands.org.