‘Intervening party’ — Friends of Denny Blaine takes big step in legal fray over nude beach

A crowd filled the park during a puppet show protest last August

The Friends of Denny Blaine group that has grown as an advocate for community solutions around protecting the Seattle park as a queer-friendly nude beach is starting of 2026 with new legal powers.

FoDB is now an intervening party and is being represented pro bono by law firm Perkins Coie.

The group announced it has organized as a nonprofit and filed to formally intervene in the lawsuit brought by a group of neighbors against the city over the park. The legal filing will give Friends of Denny Blaine stronger say in the beach’s future.

“The City, as the defendant, remains a strong partner of FoDB, but FoDB has determined that the interests and voices of LGBTQ+ beachgoers have not been fully presented and adequately represented in the lawsuit up to this point,” the group said in its announcement. “FoDB has sought to become an active player in the case by filing to intervene, asserting that FoDB represents LGBTQ+ beachgoers, who are arguably most affected by the outcome of the case.”

The group says the status provides Friends with new tools “including the ability to directly advocate for interests of beachgoers as well as the ability to appeal court rulings.”

The ongoing court battle came saw its latest tussle as a King County Superior Court judge ruled in October that city efforts to improve conditions around Denny Blaine Park including new fences and signs added last summer are adequate to keep the space open to the public while a lawsuit from neighbors over the nude beach moves toward trial.

Learn more at friendsofdennyblaine.org.

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