On the northeast shore of Lake Washington, approximately four miles southwest of Bothell, on Juanita Drive in King County.

Acreage

316 acres with 3,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on Lake Washington.

Acquired

St. Edward was acquired in November 1977 from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle for $7,000,000.

Historical Background

In the late 1920s, Bishop O'Dea, Bishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle, donated this property to the Diocese of Seattle for use as a seminary by the Sulpician Order of Catholic Priests. In 1931, St. Edward Seminary was constructed. As a related function, in 1958 Saint Thomas Seminary was constructed and opened to educate theology and collegiate students. After 1958, four years of high school and two years of college studies were conducted at St. Edward.

In the fall of 1977, because of declining enrollment and changes in the education of seminarians, the Diocese of Seattle sold 316 acres, including St. Edward Seminary, to the State of Washington for use as a state park. The Diocese retained 50 acres and St. Thomas Seminary. In April 1978, the property was dedicated and named Saint Edward State Park. In June 1978, the grounds were opened to the public through an appropriation from the Governor's Emergency Fund.

Facilities

The Seminary building with: kitchen, dining hall, classrooms, dormitory rooms, laundry and chapel. A gymnasium with a stage. An indoor 25-yard heated swimming pool, 2 tennis courts, 6 handball courts, 4-acre athletic field, 55 picnic sites, parking for 97 cars, 8 miles of hiking trails, and 1 mile of horse trail at Holmes Point area.

Of Special Interest

Currently the swimming pool is operated under King County. Parks staff is negotiating King County's operation of the gymnasium at this time.

Activities

Picnicking, hiking, soccer, fishing, tennis, handball, mountain bicycling, swimming, racquetball, bird watching, and softball. Presently, the grounds are open to the public and the swimming pool, which is under King County operation, is open.