Judge orders famous Seattle nude beach closed because people keep having sex in public there
King County Superior Court Judge Samuel Chung has given the city two weeks to handle the ongoing inappropriate behavior occurring at Denny Blaine Park.
The waterfront park has become known as a nudist spot for over 50 years, though it is not specifically designated by Seattle Parks and Recreation as a clothing optional park.
Residents of the Denny Blaine area have reported an escalation in aggressive sexual behaviors over the last few years at the park, and neighbors organized a group - Denny Blaine Park for All - to combat the issue.
As part of the lawsuit that the group filed, they provided video evidence of people masturbating in the park.
The group wrote an open letter to the community which detailed some of the troubling incidents, including a man exposing himself to a female neighbor while making sexually aggressive remarks, and another nude man masturbating on the hood of his car for over six hours.
Four public masturbation incidents occurred in a single week this March, according to the open letter, and the community has been plagued by ongoing trespassing, indecent exposures and 'menacing behavior'.
Chung ruled that the sexual behavior and nudity at the park constitutes a 'public nuisance' in a preliminary injunction issued Monday.
Lee Keller, a spokesperson for Denny Blaine Park for All, said, 'At a minimum, we need the law upheld.'
'This gives the city an opportunity for 14 days to get a plan together, so that's what the judge is asking for,' Keller continued.
'These sexual misconducts, lewd activity, masturbation, and public sex acts need to stop. However the city wants to do that; that's up to them.'
Denny Blaine Park for All members said they brought the lawsuit about after 'exhausting every possibility' of trying to get the city to step in and handle the issue.
It is unclear exactly how the city plans to address the new law, but Mayor Bruce Harrell on Tuesday called Chung's order an 'opportunity' to talk with different communities who use the park.
'We recognize the historical significance of that park,' the mayor told KOMO News.
'I've also made it clear that some of the unacceptable behaviors, some of the lewd behaviors, there's no place for that at any park... we'll see with the city attorney's office how they proceed,' Harrell continued.
Although nudity is generally considered legal in the city of Seattle, Judge Chung said that nudity must be addressed as part of the city's plan to combat nuisances at the park.
Friends of Denny Blaine is a group that supports allowing nudity in the park.
It is unclear exactly how the city plans to address the new law, but Mayor Bruce Harrell on Tuesday called Chung's order an 'opportunity' to talk with different communities who use the park
The group said that Chung's ruling 'erroneously links harassment and other misconduct to general nude usage of the park.'
A statement from the group said, 'An enormously overwhelming majority of nude usage of the beach by thousands of Seattleites each year is friendly, legal, and positive.'
'Our aim is to ensure the case, and the city's response, focuses solely on actual criminal activity -- public masturbation and sexual harassment -- which cannot be conflated with mere nudity,' the statement continued - adding that non-sexual nudity is protected free expression under the First Amendment.
Friends of Denny Blaine says the group has been working with park users, the parks department, Seattle police and neighbors to handle issues arising at the park.
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