A nude beach for Seattle? (Washington State)

[Danee]

It looks like Seattle residents want some of what we've got in spades: Nude beaches.

The mayor, Mike McGinn, has created a site polling residents for ideas to improve the city. In third place — with 1,711 votes as of Friday night — is the suggestion to set aside park beaches for recreational, "European-style" optional nudity.

The most popular idea currently on the site is legalizing and taxing marijuana, with 3,380 votes, and in second place, with 3,301 votes, is the expansion of light rail transit.

The author of the nude beach post writes that in 2008 the Seattle Parks Board recommended that the parks department look into establishing designated and signed areas for clothing-optional use. So far it hasn't happened.

The city has a long history of hosting clothing-optional cultural events, including the Fremont Solstice Cyclists event in June, which for the last 17 years has brought droves of brave, buck-naked cyclists out in body paint, rain or shine.

Follow the mayor's poll at www.ideasforseattle.org

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/nude+beach+Seattle/3085231/story.html#ixzz0pkVVSxX1

From: http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/nude+beach+Seattle/3085231/story.html

[genxnaturist]

Here is link to news story about it.


 http://www.q13fox.com/videobeta/9f507b2c-dc8c-40d7-bdbc-ebd8d242f9cf/News/Advocates-Renew-Push-For-Nude-Beach-in-Seattle

Artical on it

Advocates Renew Push For Nude Beach in Seattle

Free Beach Activists & Naturists Plan To Meet With Interim Parks
Director

Web Reporter
May 26, 2010

http://www.q13fox. com/news/ kcpq-052610- seattlenudebeach es,0,2513473. story

[image of http://NudeBeachesY ES.org sign may or may not appear]

SEATTLE - "Free Beach" advocates have renewed their push to get a
small patch of land for nude sunbathing and skinny dipping in Seattle.
Daniel Johnson posted the suggestion on a website that Seattle Mayor
Mike McGinn established for Seattle residents to give suggestions. On
the "Ideas for Seattle" website Johnson wrote "Set aside park beach
areas for European-style, clothing-optional recreation".

The suggestion has now become one of the most popular with more than
800 people supporting it - but so far, no calls from City Hall. "They
want to ignore the issue, they don't want to have a controversy about
the issue, but they also don't want to discuss it " Johnson said.

Johnson said it's a topic they've been trying to talk to the Parks
Department about for years. There are several spots that some people
already use for skinny dipping in Seattle. "It would be better to have
designated areas; so people who don't feel comfortable with it, can at
least know this is an area being used in that way" Johnson said.

The Interim Seattle Parks Director has agreed to meet with Johnson and
others who want clothing-optional beaches but a Parks Representative
said "there's no chance that Parks will consider it." Communications
Manager Dewey Potter said "it's not a legitimate form of recreation."
They also don't believe there's a lot of demand for this activity.

Mark Storey said he'd at least like for city leaders to hear them out.
"It's not going to go away there's a lot of skinny dippers, naturists,
nudists in the Seattle area" Storey said. He adds "we don't mind
making waves as long as we can surf them nude."
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Copyright © 2010, KCPQ-TV


If your in Seattle area go to this link.  You need to register so you can vote  http://www.ideasforseattle.org/forums/27772-city/suggestions/404974-set-aside-park-beach-areas-for-european-style-clo?ref=title

[Luke M]

That's surprising to me, I thought Seattle was full of hippies. For a city that appears to be progressive they certainly aren't that way in regards to naturism.

[genxnaturist]

Seattle is just head of parks and recreation isnt.  I heard of parks board is bunch of ostriches with heads in sand.   Often stated is no economic importance nor demand.   Just north is wreck beach and it brings in many tourists and revenue


Michael

[Baseballfan]

They need to study how a good of impact the nude beach in Vancouver, BC is for the local economy!

[genxnaturist]

Baseballfan,

Nice to do study and yes they have already had studies done to show economic impact of Wreck Beach and there is a good ecomonic impact. 

Problem is head of parks and recreation for seattle, said that there was no economic bennifit to such. 

Just remember, Seattle is progressive as in comparison to much of USA, but it still has closed minded conservatives in few key level positions.

Michael

[Danee]

Nudists want Seattle beach

Updated: July 7th, 2010
From: http://www.king5.com/news/Seattle-Nudists-Push-for-Clothing-Optional-Beach-97900209.html

(Note: there is a comment section below the article and a video at the top)

SEATTLE - On a warm, sunny day at Seattle's Alki Beach, it doesn't
take long to find people who would take it all off.

No skinny dipping is allowed here, but there's now a push to try to
convince the Seattle Parks Department to explore the idea of
establishing the city's first clothing-optional beach.

"There are a dozen cliches we might offer. It's a sense of freedom, a
sensuousness that can't be beat. All I can say is if you've ever tried
skinny dipping in a place that feels safe, they know exactly what I'm
talking about," said Mark Storey, member of the Naturist Action
Committee.

Storey and three others met Tuesday with Christopher Williams, Seattle
Parks Superintendent, to discuss the idea of a nude beach in Seattle.
Storey admits not every beach is appropriate to be deemed clothing-
optional, but he says, "With miles of coastline in Washington state
and the number of city parks in Seattle, I suspect there should be
some small spot where some citizens should be able to enjoy skinny
dipping."

The parks department says the group first needs to prove it has
political and community support.

"They could initiate a petition, put it on the state ballot, try to
get support from elected officials, things like that," said Dewey
Potter, spokesperson for the parks department.

While some beachgoers say they would be offended to share a beach with
nudists, others say as long as the nude sunbathers stay in their
designated area, they should be given that option.

[clog7777]

I live in the area and it seems that nothing has come from this in the last four years.  Is there still momentum behind this.  It seems like washington is really behind on this with Oregon and b.c having official c/o beaches. 

[athletic1164]

I agree. It's very surprising.

[seattleSun]

I would like to see where things stand for an officially sanctioned clothing optional beach in Seattle. A lot has changed since the attempt in 2010. It's probably worth trying to get in touch with Mark Storey to see where things are at and whether or not there's been any follow up.