SEATTLE — Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) held a listening session Thursday to discuss potential use guidelines for Denny Blaine Park and hear from parkgoers. The location has become a site of significant discussion, with some neighbors raising concerns about activities at the park and parkgoers arguing that potential changes could impact its reputation as a safe space for free expression.
The park is located on the edge of a neighborhood along Lake Washington, and has for years been used by many visitors as a nude beach. Others walk dogs, congregate or enjoy the view along the park.
The group, Friends of Denny Blaine, made up of parkgoers and supporters in conjunction with the Seattle Parks Foundation, says it has long been known as an LGBT community hub.
"I have made so many friends here, I've seen people fall in love here, I've opened and closed so many summers here, there's a little bit of magic," FODB co-organizer Colleen Kimseylove said.
However, some neighbors have been concerned about certain activities that happen in the park. Lee Keller is speaking on behalf of a group of neighbors called Denny Blaine Park for All that is asking for enforcement of current laws.
"They want it to be safe, they want it to be comfortable, they want it to be for everybody, and they're not okay with lewd behavior that happens on a regular basis," Keller said. "They're not okay with congestion, people blocking driveways, people unable to get out, it's become a huge problem."
SPR says it has received complaints about the park for years about unlawful parking, defacing of public signs, human waste, access for kids and "reported unlawful lewd acts." The agency says one suggestion for enhancing the park was to build play equipment, "an idea that originated in community requests for improving access for kids." That idea was scrapped after packed public meetings in opposition, but it sparked a major dialogue over who has access to the park and to city officials.
Since then, Kimseylove says FODB has met with SPR to develop potential "supplementary use guidelines" for the park to help parkgoers and neighbors have a more peaceful relationship. Discussions have included setting up "clothing-requested zones" near neighbors' homes. Some neighbors would like parkgoers to put clothes back on once they leave the grass, while some parkgoers say it's legal to be nude, so boundaries shouldn't be set.
"It's a question of what policy is going to lead to the most peaceful and productive relationship with neighbors, and is what parkgoers want?" Kimseylove said. "We worked really hard to make sure there's no legal threat to parkgoers. The language says it's a request to put clothes on and they're not at any threat of indecent exposure charges if they don't."
At this point, the guidelines are still in the feedback stage, and Kimseylove hopes parkgoers and neighbors will engage.
"You don't need to be a millionaire to impact public policy in Seattle, you just need to be persistent, willing to work with others and have a lot of curiosity," Kimseylove said.
According to Kimseylove, FODB agrees lewd activity shouldn't be allowed, and the group hopes to be a part of spreading awareness and education. FODB will also apply for grants to get shuttle service to the park to avoid parking issues and hopes to engage with neighbors on ways to make sure trash gets cleaned up.
Keller says DBPFA, the neighbors' group, is open to working with anyone on the issues. Ultimately, it also wants to the city do more enforcement.
"It does matter when families have to see actual lewd behavior, things that are illegal, that's not okay," Keller said. "We understand the city has a lot of issues they're dealing with, but this is a major one."
FODB says it would like to focus more on educational efforts than policing.
An official public hearing on the issues will be held on Thursday, May 23.