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Timeline

This timeline includes information on clothing-free use as reported in interviews done by MBB organizers and others as well as information about developments in the park that affected such use.

Mid 1970s to the 1980s

From the mid 1970s to mid 1980s there was nude use to the east of NOAA facility, which is currently the northeast corner of the park. The area used was (and still is) the most sandy and was located to the east of the Lake Shore Promenade where the present fenced-in designated Dog Off-leash beach area (OLA) and extended about an equal length further south to where the beach begins to bend again around a gentle convex curve. This latter area has been planted with trees along the shoreline and logs were brought in with chains to help control erosion.

The nude beach area was unofficial and was reportedly used by Navy and NOAA personnel as well as the general public. We have two confirmations of Navy use, one of which comes from someone who was stationed at the Sandpoint Navy facility in 1976 (Interview of Sept 2, 2006) (This also matches up with another account of Navy and civilian nude use going back to the mid 1970s in an interview with another beach user on July 15, 2006).

We also have three other confirmations of nude use during this time period from three beach users (one of which comes from interview with Mike on Sept 2, 2006). Mike used the beach frequently in the 1980s and he reports that there was at around five or six college and high school younger-aged individuals using it generally. He believes that users were not using the area with rocks (shoring?) as much as the sandy areas.

Skinny-dippers displaced without compensation

Beginning in the late 1980s there was increased dog use of the area and an off-leash dog use area [1] was designated (the largest of its kind in the Seattle Parks system) and a unique off-leash dog beach area was put in, which currently sits on the northern half of what was the nude beach area. So the nicer nude beach area was displaced and the city made no effort to make up for the loss. Nude use has also been further south on the eastern shoreline (north of the Swim Beach), which has had some varying degrees of privacy from the Lake Shore Promenade.

1990s

We also have confirmation from one former Parks & Rec employee who worked in the area that there was clothing-optional use in 1998. (Interview of Sept 2, 2006).

In the 1990s the off-leash area was considered a temporary measure.[2]

2000s

Mike, one of the long-time beach users, claims that possibly around 2003 or so he saw a SPD Harbor Patrol boat which seemed to be monitoring and reporting activities to plain clothes officers along the shoreline, who subsequently appeared to check each beach access points in the area. (Source: Interview with Mike on 2 Sept 2006) (See Legality and police involvement)

Phase 2 of Magnuson's Dog Off-Leash Area Shoreline Restoration is carried out in 2004 and re-opened January 8, 2005 (Dog Off-Leash Area page, [3]). Funding in the 2000 Pro Parks Levy made it possible to make substantial improvements to this off-leash area.

The shoreline area to the south of the fenced-in OLA is planted with trees along the shoreline and logs were brought in with chains to help control erosion. Small smooth pebbles were apparently laid down above the sand (which is still barely visible in the south part of this area). Before this was done the area had blackberry bushes going right up to the water with some small areas cut back for small entrances to the lake. Some dog owners allow there dogs to use this beach as well and even further down the shoreline all the way to the designated Swimming Beach. (Source: Interview with Mike on 2 Sept 2006)

Blackberry bushes removed and citations made

2004-2006? Mike claims that more blackberries were removed along the shoreline which took away some privacy for some users. It is unknown why this was done. (Interview with Mike on Sept 2, 2006) (Heavy blackberry removal was also first verified with a beach user interview on July 15, 2006). This latter user also reported that some people were getting cited by police, who possibly were responding to secondary problems other than simple skinny-dipping and sunbathing. The lack of seclusion resulting from the removal of some blackberry bushes and the uncertainty of getting cited took a toll on the clothing-optional use in the area during this time. Also there was no reported organized user group and no reported communication with skinny-dippers and sunbathers and the City.

2006

• May 8, 2006 Ryan offers outermost eastern tip of Magnuson Park as a solid candidate for official clothing-optional designation in a Seattle Beaches Internet discussion group. See the Talk:Magnuson Beach Bares page for his comments.
• July 15, 2006 Ryan and Daniel meetup and find two sunbathers who have very good, solid information about current and historical use of shoreline. Daniel's first nude use along shore. < 1.5 hrs.
• July 22, 2006 Daniel's second nude use along shore. ~5 hrs
• July (date?) 2006 Two Seattle Parks & Rec employees confirm clothing-free use along the shoreline. In addition to the 1998 confirmation above that makes three Parks & Rec employees confirming clothing-free use.
• August 16, 2006 - The Naturist Action Committee issued a NAC Advisory. See Washington: Magnuson Beach. NAC issues its Advisories in situations that require naturists and other concerned citizens to come up to speed on a certain issue or event. An Advisory is not a call for action - that's the job of the Action Alert. However, an Advisory on a particular subject may preceed an Action Alert by a period of days or weeks, so that when action required, affected naturists and concerned citizens will be up to speed.
• August 21, 2006 City approves permitted event, "Potluck/BBQ Social with the Magnuson Beach Bares and NAC" through The Seattle Park & Recreation's, The Enterprise Division via the Manger of Warren G. Magnuson Park. Permit goes through City legal for approval. Request for first ammendment designation (and $25 reduction in permit fee) is declined.
• September 2, 2006. Magnuson Beach Bares is formally organized and sees an explosive growth in its membership during its first formal event: "Potluck/BBQ Social with the Magnuson Beach Bares and NAC", was held Sept 2, 2006 (on Labor Day Weekend). 35-40 people involved with no reported problems. See Past events.
  • Mixed nude, topfree and clothed use (independent of our group) was also confirmed by multiple event participants along the shoreline during this event. A lot of information on historical use is confirmed again. Estimates of topfree and nude use are between three to seven people. Solid figures are difficult as some people appeared to be putting on their clothes as the clothed MBB tour went up the shoreline while others not with our group seemed to join in once they saw us naked in the area. All of these people were later informally approached by our group members to get involved in our group and many of them filled out surveys to volunteer some level of involvement.
• September 24, 2006. Magnuson Beach Bares' second event in the same area as the first, four people attended from 10:30 am - 1 pm. Kayaking, sunbathing, swimming.

Coverage

Press, media and blogging coverage of MBB

2006

• Naturist Action Committee (NAC) Blog Clothesless in Seattle "Wow! Naked activists in the state of Washington are tremendously creative and prolific! Here's what's happening just this coming weekend:". See Blog of 22 Sept 2006 [4] (MBB, Mermaid Crossing, and NAC Disco Beach Cleanup).
• Sept 8, 2006 The Doris Monson Show on KIRO Newsradio, Doris discusses MBB on first hour of show [5] (show archived on SFBC site) and into the second hour [6] as well. Dori reads e-mail exchanges with Johnson and Dori's producer regarding Storey and Johnson appearing on the show, and argues that MBB should purchase their own land for clothing-optional use, avoiding the use of tax payers' money for that purpose. Phone calls were taken from people who were supportive or against the group's mission. Dori argued that it is not normal to be naked in a park, it is "aberrant behavior", therefore skinny-dippers in Seattle are "freaks". He also claimed that "in general this is a homely bunch of people". Dori examines images of people on the SeattleBeaches.org Web site to judge how attractive people are who are involved in the group. Dori also examined other aspects of the Web site, including polls cited and a quote by Gandhi.
• KIRO Newsradio "Getting Naked Sept 7, 2006 - On some of these warm, late Summer days, it's only natural to want to take off your clothes to get cool, right? 710 KIRO's Rachel Belle has the skinny on some people who are doing just that." Inverview with Mark Storey. The show is available in MP3 format (916 KB, 2 mins 10 secs. long [7] (KIRO site) or [8] (SeattleBeaches.org site). Mark discussed Magnuson Beach Bares and also very briefly discussed World Naked Gardening Day.
  • Following the Sept 7, 2006 Rachel Belle segment on KIRO, Dori Monson said, in a brief teaser for his show later in the day, "You want a piece of Magnuson Park you find your own money and go buy a strip of beachfront yourself. Don't force the taxpayers to buy it for you, ya Freaks!" Dori Monson's Show Producer requested that Daniel Johnson and Mark Storey go on the Dori Monson Show (a KIRO 710 AM Show), however, both declined.

Past events

• Sept 7, 2008, Sun, Magnuson Beach Bares get-together. 3 - 5:30. Seven participants.
• Aug 17, 2008, Sun, Magnuson Beach Bares/WNBR Seattle Afterparty. 23 or so participants?
• Aug 7, 2008, Thu, Magnuson Beach Bares Social 5PM
• Jul 30, 2008, Wed, Night Run at Magnuson this Wednesday Night 8:45 PM @ Sports Meadow. 3 Participants.
• Jul 23, 2008, Wed, Night Run, 9:15 PM
• July 2, 2008, Wed, WNBR Seattle/Seattle Beaches Social Wed
• Aug 11, Sat, 2007 Sustainability Arts Festival (tentative name only) Green Sustainability/Arts Festival at Magnuson Park in Seattle - Stay tuned for updates NEW!
• Aug 11, Sat, 2007 Free Body Culture (tentative name only) at Magnuson Park in Seattle - Stay tuned for updates NEW!
• Aug 11, 2007, Sat Hemp Ride in Seattle NEW!
• Jul 29, 2007 Sun 2nd Annual Potluck/BBQ Social with the Magnuson Beach Bares and NAC

Sept 24, 2006

Event Report for A Day at the Beach with the Magnuson Beach Bares and NAC
held on Sun, Sept 24, 2006

Four people attended an informal picnic from about 10:30 am - 1 pm. Kayaking, sunbathing, swimming, several clothed people with kids also using the beach all around us. Half of them seemed to have dogs. Weather was very nice, maybe 72 - 78 degrees.

Sept 24, 2006 Pre-event info

• A Day at the Beach with the Magnuson Beach Bares and NAC
  • Date and time: Sunday, September 24, 2006; starting at aprox 11:00 am. Takes place after the Mermaid Crossing. This event will be cancelled if there is rain. Some people will be celebrating and marking the autumnal equinox, which takes place the day before.
  • Location: North of the main Swimming Beach at Magnuson Park, south of the off-leash dog area, just off the Lake Shore Promenade. Note: We will NOT be putting out a sign along the promenade this time. Please look for us along the shoreline just north of the main Swimming Beach. See a map of the park.
  • What to bring: Bring your own lunch and non-alchoholic drinks (preferably not in glass containers), towels, sunscreen, Frisbee, folding chair, sun umbrella/shade, inflatible float/lounge chair for the water, water sandals (the "beach" is made of small cobbles).
  • Activities:
    • We'll be ready for opportunites for skinny-dipping and sunbathing.
    • Frisbee, kiteflying (there is a great kite-flying hill very close by) and socializing.
    • FKKayakers will be present with kayaks and may offer brief kayak rides.
  • Reminder: The City has signs posted in the park explaining that dogs are not allowed on Seattle beaches. Unleashed dogs at the beach may thus draw the attention of authorities who might otherwise not feel the need to respond to reports of naked people swimming or sunbathing. Please leave your dogs home for this day.

Sept 2, 2006

Event Report for Potluck/BBQ Social with the Magnuson Beach Bares and NAC
held on Sat, Sept 2, 2006
Report written by Mark Storey (with edits by Daniel J and Ryan T)

Magnuson Beach Bares Are Here!

Daniel Johnson of the Seattle-based Body Freedom Collaborative (BFC) and Mark Storey of the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) have been looking at every stretch of shoreline in and near Seattle, looking for a possible site that might receive official sanction of one sort or another for clothing-optional use. Ryan T. of The SLUGS and Fraternity Snoqualmie urged a close look at the shoreline of Seattle’s Magnuson Park. The northern shores in the area of what is now the fenced-in off-leash dog run and to the south have seen quiet nude use for years, and Johnson, Ryan T, and Storey hope to fan the flames of skinny-dipping fever there.

According to NAC chair Bob Morton, the history of successful nude beach acquisition in North America has always been built on a tradition of nude use at the site and on the development of an active user-group willing to go fully public in support of nude use of the site. To that end, Daniel, Mark, and Ryan hosted a kickoff BBQ/potluck on Saturday, September 2, 2006, where local skinny-dippers hope to be the future clothing-optional Magnuson Beach.

Storey and Johnson advertised the BBQ/picnic widely on the Internet among multiple skinny-dipper groups. The goal for the day was to establish a core group of at least six people who would be willing to work publicly and tirelessly for a nude beach in or near Seattle. Without a core group willing to go public, willing to go to city council or Parks Department meetings, and willing to be known by name as skinny-dippers, the project would go nowhere.

Saturday turned out to be warm and sunny, with air temperatures in the low 80s. The Naturist Action Committee provided hamburgers and veggie burgers, with others bringing side dishes or non-alcoholic drinks to share.

Storey, Johnson, and Kathy Blanchard arrived early to set up the grill and to “stake out” a place for the picnic and swimming. Soon two or three men were enjoying the sunshine nude and one or two women were topfree. Within an hour over thirty men and women (with a near gender balance) were having fun naked in the water, eating lunch, or sitting at the water’s edge chatting away.

Daniel, Ryan, Richard and Ty spoke with those clothed and unclothed who were sitting or standing nearby to see what they thought of skinny-dipping at Magnuson Beach. All those they spoke to replied that it was okay with them, and that the skinny-dippers should be able simply to enjoy themselves.

As Mark flipped burgers, Daniel and Ryan passed out Magnuson Beach Bares sign-up forms and questionnaires to determine how many people were willing to actively support MBB in their quest for a clothing-optional beach at Magnuson Park. At least 30 of those attending the picnic filled out the forms, and as well as did nearly a dozen bystanders. That’s nearly a dozen people who did not know of the skinny-dipping picnic, who were merely walking, who saw the naked folk having fun, and said, “That’s really great! I’d like to support that!” enjoying a day in the park.

One young woman Ryan spoke to commented that if the area had official signage, many more people would use it knowing that it had support of the City and the Parks. The possibility for for legal usage would reassure them that that they would not be arrested for using the beach nude or topfree. These comments have also been heard by Ryan and Daniel from sunbathers they interviewed in the area in July.

Everyone thought the picnic was so much fun that Johnson and Storey have organized another so that those who couldn’t come on September 2 might make it for the second one. The Second Magnuson Beach Bares picnic will be on Sunday, September 24, starting at 11:00 am. For more information on the Magnuson Beach Bares and the September 24 picnic, see http://MagnusonBeach.org.

For info on the Naturist Action Committee (NAC), see NaturistAction.org.
For info on the Body Freedom Collaborative (BFC), see BodyFreedom.org.
For info on the Seattle Free Beach Campaign (SFBC), see SeattleBeaches.org.
For info on the Seattle Swims, see SeattleSwims.org.

Sept 2, 2006 Pre-event info

• Potluck/BBQ Social with the Magnuson Beach Bares and NAC
  • Date and time: Saturday, September 2, 2006 11 am - 5 PM.
  • Location: North of the main Swim Beach at Magnuson Park, south of the off-leash dog area, just off the Lake Shore Promenade. We will put out a sign so you can find us easily. See a map of the park.
  • RSVP! Important! We need to know you are coming so we know how much food to bring!! Please RSVP by contacting Mark Storey or Daniel Johnson by sending an e-mail.
  • General info: Magnuson Beach Bares and the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) (official site and new blog) invite you, your friends and family to join us at a potluck/BBQ social. NAC will be providing hamburgers and veggie-burgers for those who wish to support the Magnuson Beach Bares (name, address, e-mail contact info) and continued clothing-optional use of this semi-isolated lakefront public land.
  • Activities:
    • We'll be ready for opportunites for skinny-dipping and sunbathing.
    • Frisbee, kiteflying (there is a great kite-flying hill very close by) and socializing.
    • Meet local and regional NAC representatives and learn about current NAC issues.
  • What to bring: a potluck contribution, towels, sunscreen, frisbee, folding chair, kite and cold drinks. For food/drink items you may wish to label/identify (for non-obvious items) which are suitable for omnivores, vegetarians or vegans.

We would like to thank Sand Point Magnuson Park, Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation for their assistance in providing the location for this event.