Judge rules Denny Blaine Park can remain open through spring

Seattle’s nude beach survives another legal challenge as Friends of Denny Blaine ushers in new leadership and historic recognition

Oct 21, 2025

A green chain-link fence with tarps and a brown Seattle Parks sign reading “Clothing Optional: East of Fence” stands at the entrance to Denny Blaine Park overlooking Lake Washington. — A sign designates Denny Blaine’s new “clothing-optional” area, installed as part of the city’s abatement plan | Photo by Alex Garland for Capitol Hill Seattle 2025

Seattle’s only clothing-optional beach will stay open—at least for now. On Friday, King County Superior Court Judge Samuel Chung ruled that the City of Seattle has made “reasonable efforts in abatement” to address neighbor complaints about alleged illegal activity at Denny Blaine Park—including new fencing, signage, and ranger patrols—denying a request to immediately close the park while a broader lawsuit proceeds toward trial next spring.1

The ruling marks the latest development in a long-running dispute between city officials, a group of anonymous neighbors, and advocates who say the park represents a vital space for queer and nude recreation. The neighbors’ lawsuit, filed in April, accuses the city of “mismanaging” Denny Blaine by allowing repeated lewd and illegal conduct. But the city’s summer abatement measures—installing fencing, new signage, and increased ranger presence—were enough to satisfy the court for now.

A scanned court document titled “Clerk’s Minutes” from the King County Superior Court hearing Denny Blaine Park for All v. City of Seattle. The text notes that Judge Samuel Chung denied a motion to close the park, finding that the city had made “reasonable efforts in abatement.” — Court minutes from the October 17 hearing show Judge Samuel Chung denying a motion to close Denny Blaine Park | King County Superior Court Records/Captiol HIll Seattle

According to filings, Seattle Parks staff reported that most nude parkgoers complied with new “clothing-optional” boundaries and that reports of misconduct were minimal. The neighbor group, Denny Blaine Park For All, disputed those findings, calling the city’s report “fiction” and insisting that nuisance behavior had worsened. Chung ultimately sided with the city, rejecting the demand for an immediate shutdown but warning that the case will continue into 2026.2

The decision follows years of tension at the small waterfront park east of Capitol Hill, where nudity has been a legal and long-standing part of local culture. That tension has escalated in recent months. In August, the city installed a four-foot chain-link fence and designated a “nude zone” to comply with a previous court order. The move, meant to separate the clothing-optional lawn from the street-facing area, drew both criticism and vandalism, but has remained in place as the legal process unfolds.

Meanwhile, the Friends of Denny Blaine (FODB) community group continues to advocate for the park’s protection and inclusivity. In September, FODB celebrated a milestone when the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation voted to add Denny Blaine Park to the State Heritage Register—the first nude and LGBTQ+ site recognized in Washington history.3

The group also recently announced a transition in leadership and subsequently held elections, with multiple individuals now stepping in as new co-leads following the tenure of Sophie Amity Debs and Colleen Kimsyelove, who have helped steer the organization through two years of legal and political turmoil. The new team has pledged to continue defending public nudity and queer access in Seattle’s public spaces while working collaboratively with the city on long-term solutions.

While the ruling keeps Denny Blaine open, its future remains uncertain. The neighbors’ lawsuit still seeks a permanent ban on nudity—or, failing that, full closure of the park. For now, the fence remains and the lawsuit continues, but the park—and the historic culture of nudity it has fostered for decades—endures. 🪐