SEATTLE — The public comment period for the future of Seattle's Denny Blaine Park ended last week.
The popular nude beach and LGBTQ+ community hub has been at the center of a debate after a playground was proposed to be built on the property last year. Many community members pushed back on it and the plan was vetoed.
After that, Seattle Parks and Recreation invited the community to share what they wanted for the future of the park. While there were many supporters of keeping the park a safe space for expression, some neighbors raised concerns, including unlawful parking, defacing of public signs, human waste, access for kids and "reported unlawful lewd acts."
After analyzing the recent feedback, Seattle Parks and Recreation determined "that the suggested guidelines were already covered under existing Parks Code." That means SPR will not bring the recommendations or requested changes to the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and will not adopt any new guidelines.
The park will remain a nude beach, but there have been discussions about limiting the clothing-optional space and setting up "clothing-requested zones" near neighbors' homes.
According to a press release from SPR, while the park guidelines won't change, they are working to improve other aspects of the park. That includes formally recognizing the queer-led group Friends of Denny Blaine Park and collaborating with them on future park-related projects. Friends of Denny Blaine worked to push back against the playground proposal and argue that potential changes or limitations could impact the park's reputation as a safe space for free expression.
Friends of Denny Blaine and neighbors of the park will also work together to solve any issues that arise.
“I appreciated the opportunity to sit down with park users, discuss our shared love for the park, and work to build relationships and defuse conflict," one neighbor said.
SPR also announced it would fund larger-scale improvements to the staircases, upper landings, handrails, and paths.
