Fenced in at Denny Blaine
Seattle’s only clothing-optional beach has been divided into “nude” and “clothed” zones, sparking fresh resistance from advocates
Seattle has moved quickly to comply with a judge’s order over Denny Blaine Park, installing fencing, signage, and new zoning rules that attempt to balance the park’s history as a clothing-optional gathering space with neighborhood complaints of illegal behavior.1 But the new “solution” is already off to a rocky start: parts of the fence were vandalized within days, and both sides say the concessions don’t resolve the conflict.
The recent changes follow a July 14 ruling by King County Superior Court Judge Samuel Chung, who found that nudity “as currently constituted” at Denny Blaine contributes to a public nuisance. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the group Denny Blaine Park For All, a coalition of nearby residents who have long sought to curtail nudity at the site, citing sex acts, drug use, and disorderly conduct. Rather than shuttering the park outright, Chung gave the city 14 days to submit an abatement plan.2
On July 28, the City of Seattle filed its proposal, echoing elements first suggested by Friends of Denny Blaine (FoDB), the queer-led stewardship group formed to protect the park. The plan called for dividing the small Lake Washington park into separate zones, with the upper lawn nearest the parking lot designated clothing-required and the waterfront lawn and beach reserved for clothing-optional use.3
A four-foot fence with green tarp has now been installed to separate those areas and obscure views into the nude section from surrounding homes. Alongside the fence, new signs have been posted. The city has also pledged to increase park ranger staffing.
Shocker: Fence divides
If the new fencing was intended to settle the dispute, its rollout suggested otherwise. Within 24 hours of installation, parts of the tarp had been ripped down and stuffed into a portable toilet. Seattle Times reported that police responded to a report of vandalism on the night of August 14, but no suspect was located.4 Another report from Capitol Hill Seattle says activists staged performances (including a puppet show, apparently) at the park, defiantly declaring, “The courts can say what they want, because fuck it, we’re getting naked.”5
“The courts can say what they want, because fuck it, we’re getting naked.”
Despite the city’s swift action, members of Denny Blaine Park For All, the neighbors’ group currently suing the city, say the measures don’t go far enough. Spokesperson Lee Keller told KOMO News, “As a woman, I feel unsafe down there, and so do all neighbors in that area. People don’t like going to the park anymore.” She argued the city’s proposal “is ignoring the park’s free-for-all reality, and it’s a growing risk of serious harm to park-goers and the community.”6
Friends of Denny Blaine took a sharply different view. In an August 14 message to supporters, the group denounced the city’s decision as “going much further than necessary” and “frankly, stupid.” While the court required the city to abate nuisance behavior, FoDB argued, the zoning plan infringes on rights that are already protected under Washington law. “The City preserved nudity, [but] they decided to go much further than necessary, and decided on a ‘solution’ that infringes on Seattleites’ rights, goes far beyond what was needed, and is, frankly, stupid.”7
The group urged supporters to call the Mayor’s Office and Parks Department directly and announced upcoming leadership elections to guide the next phase of advocacy. “Long story short: the city has zoned the beach in response to a court order. We are having elections to shape the response and future of the park and this advocacy group.” All positions — from advocacy co-leads to legal correspondent — were declared open, with elections scheduled to run through September 7. Details for voting will reportedly be shared soon through the group’s official channels, including their Instagram account and email newsletter.
FoDB also reiterated its legal position that non-sexual nudity is not illegal in Seattle and remains protected as expressive conduct. “The belief of FoDB’s current leadership and that of legal counsel we have received, is that non-sexual public nudity is not illegal in Seattle. Nudity as a form of expression or protest specifically is protected under the First Amendment”8 Concurrent with the effort to elect new leadership, the group has also relaunched a petition to garner signatures and support from the public.
You can sign the petition here.
What’s next
The city’s plan remains under judicial review, with one hearing already held on August 6.9 Judge Chung has so far stopped short of closing the park, but the case continues. How long the zoning and fencing remain in place—and whether they ease tensions between neighbors and park users—will shape the future of Denny Blaine, Seattle’s only clothing-optional beach and one of its most contested queer public spaces. For now, visitors arriving at the park find a new landscape: signs at the entrance, a chain-link barrier stretching across the lawn, and clear boundaries dictating where clothing is optional and where it is not. But the culture of resistance around Denny Blaine has not dissipated. Even as the city seeks to draw lines, the beach’s defenders insist they will keep showing up—clothes off. 🪐
More reading:
Kent, J. (2025, July 28). New Denny Blaine Park plan highlights where clothing is 'required' and 'optional.' KOMO News. https://komonews.com/news/local/new-denny-blaine-park-unofficial-nude-beach-lgbtq-criminal-activity-community-king-county-superior-cour-july-14-enforcement-homeowners-park-goers
Nicks, E. (2025, July 23). Friends of Denny Blaine submit plan to preserve nude use of park under court order. Planet Nude. https://www.planetnude.co/p/friends-of-denny-blaine-submit-plan
Sutich, J. (2025, July 29). Seattle's plan for Denny Blaine Park: Clothing-optional zone. MyNorthwest. https://mynorthwest.com/local/denny-blaine-park-new-plan/4115054
Mellits, M., & Soumyanath, S. (2025, August 16). Fence to block view of nudity at Seattle beach has a rough start. The Seattle Times. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/fence-to-block-view-of-nudity-at-seattle-beach-has-a-rough-start/
jseattle. (2025, August 15). Denny Blaine Park’s new ‘nude zone’ is in effect (Though somebody tried to tear the nude zone fence down). Capitol Hill Seattle. https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2025/08/denny-blaine-parks-new-nude-zone-is-in-effect-though-somebody-tried-to-tear-the-nude-zone-fence-down/
(KOMO News, 2025).
Friends of Denny Blaine. (2025, August 14). Big (Bad) News at the Park. + Elections! [Email newsletter].
(Friends of Denny Blaine, 2025).
Gasca, N. (2025, August 8). Seattle's Denny Blaine Park will stay open, but add 'visual barrier.' KUOW. https://www.kuow.org/stories/denny-blaine-will-stay-open-for-now-despite-second-push-from-neighborhood-association
Since the vandals haven't been caught, it isn't clear just who tore down parts of the barrier, but WHOEVER did that really didn’t make one with their opinion to be viewed favorably by the opposing side. If there is no compromise, guess who loses completely? Is half a beach better than none at all???