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It's Legal To Walk Around Naked In Topeka, But The City Council Might Change That

The Topeka City Council will consider a proposal that would outlaw public nudity in the city. Currently, there's nothing on the books making it illegal for people in the Kansas capital to bare it all.

At a meeting this week, City Councilman Jeff Coen called the Shunga Trail a gem in Topeka.

“Every time I ride, there’s bunny rabbits running across there. We’ve seen turtles and snakes,” said Coen.

But there are some things he doesn’t want see.

“I ride that with my 8-year-old. I don’t want to have to teach her the birds and the bees if we happen to come across the naked guy walking on the trail,” says Coen.

A local man is known to walk the trail naked. And while that has caused complaints, he isn’t breaking any laws.

Members of the council say they believe other copycats are now learning that they can be naked in public legally in Topeka.

The council could vote on a ban in the coming weeks. They considered the issue last year, but it never came up for a final vote.

As the Kansas News Service managing editor, I help our statewide team of reporters find the important issues and breaking news that impact people statewide. We refine our daily stories to illustrate the issues and events that affect the health, well-being and economic stability of the people of Kansas. Email me at skoranda@kcur.org.
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