In November 2023, Seattle Parks and Recreation presented a plan to redevelop Denny Blane Park, a popular nude beach, into a children's playground.[10] An anonymous donor pledged $550,000 to fund the project. Seattle Parks and Recreation instructed employees to "maintain a policy of confidentiality" regarding the redevelopment project because "If this gets out, it will be very problematic."[11]
After public outcry during a December 2023 community meeting, Seattle Parks and Recreation decided to scrap the playground plan, stating "feedback from the community indicated the park was not the right location for the play area."[12]
In May 2024, KUOW broke the news that Stuart Sloan was the anonymous donor for the redevelopment plan. Sloan lives next to Denny Blaine Park and texted and met with Seattle city leaders, including Mayor Bruce Harrell, to discuss the park and his redevelopment plans.[13] In July 2024, KUOW published many of the private text messages between Sloan, Harrell and other city leaders with photos of nude beach goers. In texts, Sloan stated, "This is disgusting, and as you’ve said, we’re on the right side of this issue...I hope you agree that we need to get ahead of this or it will be more difficult once the good weather returns.” Mayor Harrell agreed, stating, "If you are disgusted, I share your disgust."[14]
In May 2024, the City put forth a policy suggestion, which would create two zones in Deny Blaine Park: "naked Zone A, composed of the grassy area and beach, and a clothed Zone B, consisting of the loop of road... outside the park where several neighbors live."[15] Public nudity remains legal in Seattle as long as the person naked is not trying to cause "affront or alarm."[16]