Denny Blaine Park in Seattle has once again become the center of controversy, as nearby residents have continued to raise concerns over lewd behavior, including public masturbation, intercourse, and drug use.
A coalition of residents known as Denny Blaine Park for All has filed a lawsuit, accusing the city of Seattle of allowing the park to become “a regional venue for criminal and uncivil behavior.”
“This is not anything about getting rid of nudity,” said spokesperson Lee Keller. “Nudity is legal in Washington state.”
In July, King County Superior Court Judge Samuel Chung ruled that “nudity, as constituted at the park, does constitute a public nuisance,” and ordered the City of Seattle to draft a plan of abatement. The judge denied the coalition’s request to temporarily close the park, but emphasized that nudity must be addressed alongside sexual misconduct.
In response, Seattle Parks and Recreation installed new green mesh fences and signage dividing the park between “clothing-required” and “clothing-optional” areas. However, the new visual barriers prompted mixed reactions from park visitors, and neighbors complained that the fence had blocked their view of the beach. Keller also noted the misconduct would simply continue behind the fence.
The park has long been considered an unofficial place for members of the LGBT community, and some visitors have defended the nudity and criticized neighbors for opposing it.
“The city needs to hold its ground and tell the neighbors to shut up,” one park visitor said. “Don’t cave to rich people just because they have a little bit of money to throw around.”
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell declined to comment on the ongoing situation, citing pending litigation. The next major court hearing for the situation is scheduled for mid-October.
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