Despite widespread rumors, there is no definite plan to close St. Edward State Park in Kenmore, according to Virginia Painter, a spokesperson for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

“We can’t say St. Edward is on a list to close,” Painter said.

She did say that, at the request of state legislators, commission officials came up with possible steps to trim up to $23 million from their annual budget. Those steps ending up including a list of potential park closings and St. Edward’s appeared on that list.

“I’m thinking this was asked of us as an FYI piece,” Painter said.

In the past, the commission was told to slice $10 million in spending, which indirectly led to the unpopular closing of the Carole Ann Wald Memorial Pool in St. Edward’s last month. But Painter said revenue projections came in worse than expected and legislators decided they needed to plan for possibly even deeper cuts.

Painter said the parks officials came up with further administrative and program cuts, but had to look at potentially shutting parks, targeting facilities with annual budgets of at least $300,000. They also looked at projected revenues from those same parks and at visitation rates.

According to Painter, at approximately 715,000 annually, St. Edward’s visitation rate is the highest of the parks studied. Still, Painter cautioned that doesn’t mean the park would be the last closed if officials have to put the list into play.

State legislators should pass their final budget before the end of April and Painter said it’s difficult to predict any park’s future until that happens. She also could not comment on what might happen to the Wald pool, saying she was seeking clarification on whether or not a new pool operator had been found.

The Friends of St. Edward Park will be meeting at 7 p.m. March 11 at the Wald gym.