“Hidden Beach is my go-to to unwind.”

“My kids and now my grandkids have learned to swim here. It is not fancy.”

“It feels like you can always let your hair down and relax at Hidden Beach.”

“For at least 15 years I loved seeing Carmel, a retired nurse and her good friend Anita, Hidden Beach regulars in their 80’s, swimming and sunbathing, wearing wonderful hats and sitting in low folding chairs in the sand at Hidden beach. I swam there. I feared the summer when she wouldn’t be there. Then 2 years ago I saw Carmel’s obituary where they mentioned Hidden Beach as her greatest joy in life, that’s how much it meant to her. I have many friends who I only know because of this very special beach.”

“We love the friendly, neighborly feel—little signs pointing people to their forgotten sunglasses or swim goggles. Little improvements to the landscaping and the arrangements of chairs and benches. It feels magical in this way. We call it “secret beach” because it feels like walking into The Secret Garden. It’s a quiet place to read or meditate (love the benches on the north and south ends) and in the summer we’ll spend long hours swimming and relaxing, or bring a picnic down.”

“When I was with my children it was a swimming/picnicking/socializing place. A place to meet other mothers with their children for hours. Later it became a swimming/picnicking place to take grandchildren. It was the only walkable beach where we could go for quick swims, rock skipping, or digging in the sand. It could be crowded or quiet, dog free or not. If it were not to our liking, we would just stay a while and go home. It’s versatility was endless. Now my husband and I go as a stopover on walks. We sit or stand, gaze and remember. We marvel at the beauty of our city.”

“We took our children and grandchildren there for over 40 years. It is a magical place where everyone is there just to enjoy family time in the summer. Invariably we would run into someone we knew or meet a new person. This is a classic street end beach in Seattle that should be protected for the future of all who love living in Seattle.”

“It’s secluded and feels like a mini vacation where my family and I have watched our girls grow up and learn to swim.”

“Lovely access to water, trees, birds. Access feels like freedom. We don’t live right on the water, but I love being able to get to it.”

“I taught my kids to swim there. It is a peaceful destination.”

“What I like best about the beach is the clean water, the eclectic and diverse mix of kind Seattle people, the community of people who care for it and maintain it, the color of the water as the sun is setting, the views of Mt. Rainer (when you swim out far enough), the dusty trail down to the beach, the summer blackberries, the regular connections with old friends and neighbors, and most importantly, the joy of sharing a lifetime summer ritual with my kids, who also now love that spot.”

“It's a wonderful community spot to access the lake, enjoy the view, and swim. As a kid, I learned how to swim at Hidden Beach and it's one of my most treasured Seattle memories. I'm now 36 years old and have used the beach my entire life. I can't imagine this treasure of public land and waterfront access being restricted.”

“Just yesterday I met up with two mom friends of mine after the kids went to bed (husbands stayed home) at hidden Beach for a sunset swim. All three of us are teachers and work very hard. This is a time where we could escape and be together in a calm and wonderful place and share each other’s space. As women we feel safe there. We bring our children there almost every day in the summer to swim and play in the sand. It is our happy place.”

“I have been coming here with family and friends for 45 years. As a family this was our summer spot; neighborhood moms would bring us kids down for the afternoon on hot days; then the dads would show up with picnic dinners after work. It was a great place to relax and connect. As I got older, I cherished swimming out into the lake and looking back at the little gem of a beach where family was; gave me confidence and a sense of place as we lived blocks up from the water but this beach was a big part of my childhood; such fond memories of this place. I hope it can be maintained and respected for years to come.”

“My children are now in their 30ties. When they were little, we would meet with neighbors and other children to play and swim at the beach. Pack snacks and lunches and spend hours together. My husband and I would swim in the summer evenings after dinner, spending sometimes only 1/2 hr, just to cool off and end the day.”

“We always loved watching the Blue Angels while floating on an air mattress at Hidden. They flew right over our heads every August!”

“I have been coming to Hidden Beach since I was a kid living nearby in Madrona in the 70s and 80s. I now bring my kids there almost daily during the summer for a quick swim after school/work. During COVID I've been bringing my kayak over for a brief paddle during lunchtime. I often run into friends old and new at the beach. It's a treasured community asset.”

“One 4th of July, on a perfectly clear night, we had 3 grandchildren with us who were dying to see fireworks. We tried several crowded lookouts. But then we remembered Hidden Beach. The view of the fireworks display at The Seattle Tennis Club was amazing. Little did they know that their wealth was shared!”

“my family has gone for 37 years, a very special place”

“I have been going to Hidden Beach my whole life. Literally my mom took me there on my third day of life.”

“Early morning swims at sunrise with a colleague, as well as a memorable moonlight swim in place of a called-off wedding.”

“I've been to this beach literally thousands of times. Every time is special and I look forward to going back every summer. Some special memories are a polar bear party one February (yikes), a birthday party there when I was a little kid, teaching my son to swim, the first time I took my young family there to play... my son didn't want to get out of the water and my daughter couldn't stop picking the berries. The endless times we all brought little nets and tried to unsuccessfully catch a fish - too fast for us. The endless hours watching the people come and go and meeting both new and old friends.”

“I grew up the hill in Madrona - in a home no one in my family could now afford. Hidden Beach was a little escape for us as kids. We learned how to be independent and become strong swimmers casting out from Hidden beach to go up and down the lake. We’d look out at the mountains and the boaters. It made the lake accessible for those of us without beach front property. So that we too have access to this beautiful water body through a quiet portal. I’m sure it’s much the same way and I think it’s important to keep these little public access points up and down the lake.

My eldest daughter swam there as a child and teenager, and now she takes her children there, often seeing the same people - now seniors or new parents - she did 25 years ago.”

“Hidden Beach is an absolute gem, and it's been a community asset my entire life.”

“Hidden Beach is an important public asset in beautiful natural setting. It allows access to the water in an area that is otherwise off limits.”