No ban on nudity in Seattle parks

Seattle -- The Seattle Parks and Recreation board has decided the city is large enough and diverse enough to include those who like to bare it all in public.

Parks commissioners have dropped an effort to have those who go nude in the parks charged with criminal trespass, The Seattle Times reported. They even said they will ask officials to consider making one of the public beaches clothing optional.

A large crowd attended Thursday night's meeting, a spokeswoman told the newspaper. Most of them, apparently, opposed criminalizing nudity.

The plan was introduced after police received complaints about the World Naked Bike Ride July 12. The event, publicizing dependency on oil, began in Gas Works Park, where the riders stripped to the buff and painted their bodies before taking off on a ride through the city.

Dewey Potter, the parks spokeswoman, said Seattle has no laws governing public undress. Washington state bans public nudity only if it offends someone or is considered a hazard.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.