SEATTLE — The City of Seattle has scrapped a proposal to add a children’s play area to a nude beach after an outpouring of community backlash.
Seattle Parks and Recreation was considering adding the play area to Denny Blaine Park, which is home to a well-known nude beach on Lake Washington and a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.
“While this area of our city still lacks accessible play equipment for kids and families, we understand the feedback that this particular park is not the best location, and we will evaluate other location alternatives,” a city spokesperson wrote in a blog post Friday.
During a public forum on Wednesday, the parks department heard from community members who said adding a kids’ play area to Denny Blaine Park felt like an attempt to demonize the community.
“It has always been a place for the weird and the wonderful and that’s part of what makes Seattle such a wonderful place is the weirdos,” said Colleen Kimseylove who is a local advocate.
“We are so ecstatic to hear back from parks not only that the playground won’t be happening but so quickly, with such a quick turnaround,” said Sophie Amity Debs, who has been a community organizer.
Debs said she and others are working with Seattle Parks and the Seattle Parks Foundation to form a Friends of Denny Blaine Group.
“Get this space designated as officially a clothing-optional beach as well as potentially recognizing its history as a queer safe space,” said Debs.
Though nudity is not illegal under state law, it becomes illegal if the nudity crosses over into something obscene. Who makes the call on what's obscene is something those who use this park fear could be weaponized against them if families start showing up with their kids.
Seattle parks said Friday that it planned to meet with leaders in the LGBTQ+ community to understand the importance of the beach and how the community hoped it would be used in the future.
The department initially targeted Denny Blaine for a play area because it said there wasn’t one in the neighborhood within a 10- to 15-minute walk. A private donor was planning to fund the project, which would have cost $550,000.
Though the project won’t continue, questions still linger about the anonymous donor.
“It’s just imperative to acknowledge the fact that one donor can influence our society and close a safe space at their whim by donating half a million dollars. It’s abhorrent,” said local advocate Jesse Miranda.