Seattle Parks and Recreation is opening public review on proposed Supplemental Use Guidelines for Denny Blaine Park following a recent court decision shaping the public shoreline at the historically recognized LGBTQ+ nude beach.
The community group formed to protect Denny Blaine says now is the time “for the people who actually use and love this park to make their voices heard.”
The public process includes a community meeting on Tuesday, September 15th at 6 PM at the Miller Community Center, located at 330 19th Ave E. Seattle Parks representatives will gather community feedback during the session before the guidelines are finalized.
A virtual public meeting will follow on September 17 at 6 PM and an online feedback period will remain open through October 5 to capture written public input.
While specific park configurations remain constrained by the court’s ruling, advocacy organization Friends of Denny Blaine say they have met with city officials to help ensure park users shape the final policy. Priority areas targeted for public input include improving physical accessibility, installing screening to protect visitors’ privacy from unwanted surveillance, and adding thoughtful landscaping, signage, and amenities. Community advocates are also urging the city to officially recognize Denny Blaine’s history as a queer and clothing-optional gathering place.
The guidelines also must comply to the court’s rulings, the city says:
Several aspects of the proposed guidelines are set by court order and cannot be unilaterally changed by the City through the rulemaking process. These include the designation of clothing-optional and clothing-required areas, the specific line where the areas are divided, the requirement for visual screening between the areas, the allowance of toplessness throughout the park, and the minimum frequency of visits and monitoring by Park Rangers and maintenance staff.
The city says the court has “also required SPR to install some additional screening to ensure that clothing-optional areas of the park are not visible from neighboring properties.”
CHS reported here in July as a judge denied a bid by a group of neighbors and nearby property owners to close the park over complaints of public nudity, sexual activity, and disorder.
In his decision, Judge Samuel Chung sided with the City of Seattle and Friends of Denny Blaine in keeping the two-acre park on the shores of Lake Washington open — and nude — calling Denny Blaine “a limited natural resource that must be shared by the residents of the neighborhood and the Park’s visitors.”
The decision came with caveats after several findings that the court said justified the neighbors’ claims around lewd acts and criminal activity at the park. In the ruling, the judge said the city must implement and manage a previously approved abatement plan, and “develop and implement a park specific user plan and code of conduct to address overcrowding, safety, and prohibited and acceptable behaviors.”
The new guideline review runs parallel to broader community sessions starting late September regarding long-term park investments and improvements:
HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
Provide feedback on the proposed Supplemental Use Guidelines:
- Review the draft guidelines here
- Attend one of our community meetings:
- Tuesday, September 15 at 6 PM at Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave E
- Online: Thursday, September 17 at 6 PM (Meeting Link)
- Provide comments on our engagement hub from now until October 5. You may submit comments at any time during this period. Please note that the formal 14-day public comment period will begin after the public meetings and is anticipated to run from September 21 through October 5.
Help shape the park’s long-term design:
- If you are interested in taking part in the community design process for a long-term site improvement plan, join us at an open house or take the online survey to share your feedback and connect with the community! Meetings will have no formal design presentation.
- September 20, from 11 AM – 2 PM at Cal Anderson Shelter House, 1700 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
- September 23, from 4:30 – 6:30 PM at Madrona Shelter House, 917 34th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
- Share your experiences and desires for the space through our online survey that will open on September 20.
Neighbors are also watching how a major area real estate listing will play out. A 1928-era, 5,500-square-foot mansion neighboring the park hit the market this summer for $4.65 million, a 66% premium to the last time it sold in 2015.
“Tucked into the heart of Denny Blaine and only steps from the shores of Lake Washington, this stunning Mediterranean estate is a rare offering, where timeless European charm meets refined Northwest living,” the listing reads.
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