New text messages obtained by KUOW give insight into the private conversations happening between Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and philanthropist Stuart Sloan in the months leading up to a now scrapped plan to build a children’s playground at a nudist park popular with queer people.
“If you are disgusted I share your disgust,” Mayor Harrell said in a text message to Sloan.
Denny Blaine Park had attracted the ire of neighbors in recent years, including Sloan, whose house borders the park. It’s a haven for nudists and the LGBTQ+ community, but has attracted negative attention as some park-goers have engaged in sexual activities.
Related: Who was the anonymous donor behind Seattle's Denny Blaine nude beach? We found out
A playground was proposed to be built at the park, with significant funding promised from Sloan and others. The plans for the playground were later abandoned, after hundreds of community members vocalized their opposition.
“Had it happened, Stuart would not have been the anonymous donor alone,” said Lee Keller of The Keller Group, in May. “Several were willing to give.”
The text records show that Sloan reached out to Harrell on his personal cell in March 2023, while the mayor was on an anniversary trip to Maui.
In a message to the mayor, Sloan sent two pictures taken at the park, which Sloan lives adjacent to, with nude images of park-goers.
“I did take the liberty to black out the ‘privates’ but, rest assured, there were many today in the park,” Sloan wrote to the mayor.
“This is disgusting, and as you’ve said, we’re on the right side of this issue,” Sloan continued. “I hope you agree that we need to get ahead of this or it will be more difficult once the good weather returns.”
The mayor responded to Sloan that he had forwarded his message along to AP Diaz, superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation.
“I will get it done,” Harrell wrote. Harrell told Sloan that Deputy Mayor Adiam Emery would call him. Within 10 minutes, she had, according to the text records.
“I never expected you to take ‘immediate’ action …” Sloan wrote, before signing off the text with his name and calling himself Harrell’s new friend.
Three months later, text messages show that Harrell reached out to Sloan.
“I have been made aware of the fact that the problem of nudity and hazardous waste has become totally totally unacceptable at the beach. If you are disgusted, I share your disgust. Executive Adiam Emery will be working with you to address the issue and I apologize it has not been done quickly and effectively. The law department pushed back on one strategy, but I am committed to figuring this out. I am assuming you are frustrated, and I think your frustration is very reasonable. I know you want results and not an apology, so I hope the latter is quickly forthcoming.”
In a text message to AP Diaz, the mayor showed some annoyance with Sloan, who he said messaged him on a Saturday while he was on his anniversary trip.
“... I was very direct with Stuart Sloan for bothering me while I am in Maui for my anniversary,” Harrell wrote.
In a statement to KUOW, the mayor’s office spokesperson Jamie Housen said that Harrell hoped to curb public masturbation, defecation, and other lewd activities at the park, but that he respected that Seattle residents have the right to be nude in public, and at Denny Blaine.
“When made aware of the range of issues at Denny Blaine – parking challenges, trash piling up, human waste, and lewd activities – he expressed urgency in trying to improve those conditions,” the statement read.
Sloan did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.
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