I am responding to the article about the State Parks and the St. Edward seminary, which ran in the Kenmore Reporter on Dec. 6. The State Parks and Recreation Commission’s Virginia Painter is revising history with her statement that the McMenamins weren’t interested in pursuing the seminary. The fact that McMenamins is opening a destination facility in Northshore demonstrates their desire to be located here. There were numerous hearings regarding the seminary location but it was vigorously opposed by a few bicyclists and play field advocates who sunk the McMenamins’ project because “drunk visitors would run over children” and the city bought into that argument.
The seminary had wonderful stories to tell and there was no better way to do that than through a McMenamins’ lodging venue…the ghosts, the seminarians…so many stories. Kenmore could have been a destination. Instead, we continue to sit on the sidelines.
Susan Gardner, Kenmore
