Seattle Officially Recognizes Denny Blaine as an LGBTQ+ Landmark

For the first time, the Seattle City Council formally recognized Denny Blaine Park’s decades of queer history and its importance to gay and trans Seattle. The council passed a formal resolution Wednesday, showing where the city stands after years of attempted erasure of the iconic nude beach.

The park is a lively third space where respectful nudity is valued by working-class visitors, but not by its affluent neighbors, who sued to shut the park down under the moniker Denny Park for All, which might as well have been called Denny Park for None.

Sponsored by Council President Joy Hollingsworth, whose district includes the beach, comes three years after then-Mayor Bruce Harrell tried to hijack the park on behalf of a wealthy friend, Stuart Sloan, who lives in the roomy waterfront mansion next door, by adding a children’s playground. The conflict is nakedly obvious. (ICYMI: Mayor Bruce Harrell Met with Denny Blaine Donor at a Key Moment During Controversial Playground Proposal).

Last year, state officials added Denny Blaine to the Washington Heritage Register, according to a release from Friends of Denny Blaine ( link with butts).

A court ruling earlier this year clarified the park will stay open, though the city needs to better enforce rules against the odd instances of “lewd behavior,” masturbation, and peeing . For now, a chain link fence bisects the park, into an upper, grassy clothed area, and a nude beach area. (Though nudity remains legal in Seattle).

City departments have enforced the wrong rules at the park in recent years. The court found that Seattle Parks and Recreation department employees cannot confront or document people getting naughty. Meanwhile, Seattle Police Department officers were threatening and kicking out people for being nude, which is legal. (The police chief eventually apologized).

The city council resolution suggests some kind of physical symbol of that like a pride flag at the park. Can you think of anything a bit more creative (or wet and wrinkly)?

The future of the park will be determined in part by an upcoming round of public comment. Per Friends of Denny Blaine, you can weigh in on that future by submitting written comments to the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation before October 5th.