PORT TOWNSEND — With speeches, congratulations, chocolate cake and a few tears, the $6 million dining and conference hall at Fort Worden State Park was officially opened Saturday.
“Is this a great day or what?” Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, asked the audience of about 250 residents, government officials, park volunteers and staff.
Kessler was one of the speakers during the ceremony, hosted by Rex Derr, state parks director, and Kees Kolff, mayor of Port Townsend. All commended the community and partner organizations for the collaborative effort in getting funding for the 18,000 square-foot hall, the most expensive single project in state park history.
“This park is unique in the nation because of the marriage of so many vital groups,” Derr said.
—————-
The rest of the story appears in the Sunday Peninsula Daily News.