McGuire Memorial Park Opens

Saint Francis and Loretto Borough hosted a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting for the Captain Michael McGuire Memorial Park on Friday, August 21.

In 2011, the borough and University formed a partnership to design and implement the town’s first community park. Drawing inspiration from Loretto’s history, the two partners proposed the construction of the “Captain Michael McGuire Memorial Park,” a multi-use community park that would promote health and fitness while celebrating the historical and cultural heritage of Loretto and connecting with the town’s ongoing revitalization efforts.

The park, located on the southern edge of campus, is designed to provide residents, students and visitors a multi-purpose area to enjoy recreational and learning opportunities. Features such as a walking path, fitness stations, an outdoor classroom, playground equipment, picnic tables, grills, benches and bike racks provide users with a wide variety of options for recreational and health and wellness activities.

During the dedication ceremony, Michael and Aaron McGuire,direct descendants of Captain Michael, performed their original ballad that puts to music the history of the Revolutionary War hero who established “the McGuire Settlement,” which was later developed into Loretto by Prince Demetrius Gallitzin.