Nude beach supporters meet with Seattle Parks chief | Public Spaces

It’s the naked truth, some Seattleites want a nude beach.

Today bare-knuckled (and bottomed) activists asked the head of Seattle’s Parks Department to consider allowing a section of an existing city park be declared ‘clothing optional.’

“He didn’t just flat out say no,” said Mark Story, secretary of the Naturalist Action Committee about his meeting with Interim Superintendent of Seattle’s Parks Department.

After taking office earlier this year Mayor Mike McGinn launched a website IdeasforSeattle.org. 

The mayor is asking citizens to propose ideas for the city and then vote to prioritize the list.  Topping that 'wish list' are ideas like legalizing and taxing marijuana, expanding lightrail and currently in third place “set aside park beach areas for European-style, clothing-optional recreation.”

While Story says the conversation Tuesday was thoughtful he says, “It’s going to be down the road if it happens at all.”

Dewey Potter, Park’s Communications Manager, said, “In order to get Parks and Recreation to take such an action this group would need to gather some political support and some community support.”

To which Story said, “I don’t expect a clothing optional beach to be easy, there are a lot of questions that need to be asked.”

In the meantime Potter says there is a gray area in state law when it comes to nudity.

“Basically it’s not illegal to be nude per say in the state of Washington.  Anyone who is offended, affronted or insulted by nudity can call the police and the police will decide whether to bring a charge or not,” explained Potter.

So nudists, bare if you dare.

The nude beach proposal is an outgrowth of the many clothing-optional community events already celebrated in Seattle, such as Fremont Solstice Cyclists, the World Naked Bike Ride and others.

So if Seattle embraces a nude-attitude and ‘opens up’ a park would you want it in your neighborhood?  What park might you suggest?  

(photo courtesy of Flickr user 25796513@N08.)