Hidden Beach: 100+ years
Hidden Beach (aka E. Harrison Street End) has been a public beach for over 100 years. This is the ongoing timeline of Hidden Beach and the effort to preserve it.
“The woods”
Jack Roth — who grew up in the neighborhood (coincidentally living in Libby & Bob’s home for 21 years long before they moved in) — recalled playing at Hidden Beach as a boy in the 1920s, when neighborhood kids called it “the woods.” Jack eventually moved to Yakima and lived to be 102, but he returned to his old Seattle neighborhood many times to visit and relay stories of growing up in Denny Blaine and playing at Hidden Beach.
Sources: Jack Roth obituary (Yakima Herald) · estimated date; family recollection“We all played at Hidden Beach as kids”
Fred Stahlhut, now in his 80s, still lives with his wife Ellie in the Denny Blaine house where he was born. He recalls going to Hidden Beach all these years. “We all played at Hidden Beach as kids.”
Estimated date; firsthand recollection
Friends of Street Ends is born
Karen Daubert and John Barber found Friends of Street Ends (FOSE) as a community response to neighbors fencing off public shoreline — the group that later helps draft the City’s first street-end protection law.
Sources: Friends of Street Ends
The “String of Pearls” opens
After a fight that reaches the Washington Supreme Court, the City grants permits in 1995 and Leschi’s Lake Washington shoreline street ends open to the public — the “String of Pearls” at S. King, Dearborn, Charles and Norman.
Sources: Leschi Community Council · Seattle Times
Public by law
Seattle designates its shoreline street ends “for public uses and enjoyment.”
Sources: Resolution 29370Libby Sinclair named steward for Hidden Beach
Libby has been coming to Hidden Beach since the 1970s, volunteering at mulch-spreading and pruning work parties for over 20 years, and officially became the City steward for the E. Harrison Street End about 10 years ago.
Sources: Friends of Hidden BeachSouth lot rebuilt
The 1951 house south of the beach is demolished and replaced with a new home.
Sources: King County Assessor
South encroachment driveway receives ROW permit
The south owners receive an SDOT right-of-way permit (SUCONSTX326813) to pave a former gravel access drive — a ~14-ft-wide concrete driveway crossing part of the public street end.
Sources: SDOT permit SUCONSTX326813 · Google Earth historical aerials (unpaved July 2017, paved by May 2018)
The City flags the south driveway
A code-compliance complaint (003077-18CP) flags landscaping and paving in the E. Harrison St right-of-way. SDOT confirms it has authority over the street end and follows up.
Sources: Making Waves: “Inherited A Driveway” · City record (SDCI) · Complaint 003077-18CPNorth home sold; remodel begins
The waterfront home north of the beach sells and a major remodel begins.
Sources: King County Assessor · WA Court of AppealsHedges, landscaping, rockery, bulkhead — settled with City
The City settles the south landscaping encroachment with a paid Shoreline Street End permit (SUPSM0007600) covering 2,661 sq ft of the public street end — hedges, privatizing landscaping, rockery and bulkhead (the driveway is permitted separately). The 2026 fee runs about $50,500/year.
Sources: SDOT permit SUPSM0007600
A fence on public land
A construction-staging fence (SDOT permit SUCONST0003196) encloses up to 1,667 sq ft of the public street end — and stays for about 21 months.
Sources: Making Waves: Fence Renewal Time (again) · Seattle SDOT (permit SUCONST0003196)
Friends of Hidden Beach files its plan
FOHB submits its plan to restore public access to SDOT (permit SUCONST0004094).
Sources: Making Waves: Pressure Relief · Seattle Services Portal (SDOT permit SUCONST0004094)
Friends of Hidden Beach goes online
FOHB launches friendsofhiddenbeach.com to document the street end’s history, share the restoration plan, and rally the community.
Sources: friendsofhiddenbeach.comThe community steps up
Fundraising begins and volunteers hold work parties, while pressing the City to protect the street end.
Fence down; driveway denied
The construction fence comes off the public land, and SDOT denies the north driveway application.
Sources: Making Waves: Room to Breathe · SDOT driveway denial (WA Court of Appeals, Sept 2024)
KUOW spotlights Hidden Beach
KUOW runs a series on Seattle’s shoreline street ends that features Hidden Beach — including how much waterfront homeowners pay the City to encroach on the public land.
Sources: Making Waves: KUOW: How rich Seattleites can lease public land through a program meant to protect it · KUOW
The City is sued
The north owners sue the City over public records; the case is dismissed and upheld on appeal.
Sources: WA Court of Appeals No. 88277-5-I
Public comment opens
The City opens public comment on FOHB’s plan and residents weigh in.
Sources: SDCI project 3041461-LU · Making Waves: 94.25% in favor of the proposal · Making Waves: A Comment On Comments
Joy Hollingsworth helps secure $15K for improvements
Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth secures $15,000 for Hidden Beach in the City budget.
Sources: Making Waves: Give Beach A Chance
“Wetland?” No — it’s a beach
A years-long “wetland” question is resolved: SDCI formally determines the site is not a wetland — backed by a State Dept. of Ecology memo, SDOT’s own Critical Areas Report, and independent studies dating to 2017.
Sources: Making Waves: A case of mistaken identity · SDCI project 3041461-LU · SDCI wetland determination (2025) · WA Dept. of Ecology memo (2025) · SDOT Critical Areas Report (ICF, 2025) · Wetland Letter of Determination (Wetlands Northwest, 2025) · Wetland Delineation Report (Northwest Environmental Consulting, 2017)
Alexis Mercedes Rinck visits Hidden Beach
Citywide Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck tours the street end with her aide Kaiden Cook, hears the proposal, and offers to help move it forward with SDCI and SDOT.
Sources: Making Waves: Alexis Mercedes Rinck at Hidden Beach
The plan advances
FOHB pays the review fees and the improvement plan moves to the next round of City review.
Sources: SDCI project 3041461-LU
“No swimming within 100 yards” sign cited by the City
The City issues a Prohibited Sign Citation over a private dock’s “no swimming within 100 yards” sign near the public beach, along with an electric-code compliance order for a dock shock hazard.
Sources: Making Waves: Progress on “Shock Hazard” signage · Prohibited Sign Citation · Electric Code Compliance Order
Where things stand
The plan is under review. FOHB proposes restoring the central public entrance with native plantings and log-bench seating — while keeping reasonable access for both neighbors.
Sources: SDCI project 3041461-LU