National Park Service Begins Tree Removal at Historic DC Golf Course Slated for Redesign
The National Park Service has started cutting down trees at the East Potomac Golf Links as part of a renovation plan championed by the Trump administration.
The National Park Service has initiated a new phase of tree removal at the historic East Potomac Golf Links, a public golf course near the National Mall, as the Trump administration moves forward with plans to transform it into a championship-level venue. The agency stated in a court filing that over 500 trees "that do not contribute to the historic landscape will be removed" as part of the rehabilitation project. No healthy trees considered contributing features of the historical golf course, including historic cherry trees, are slated for removal.
In total, 169 trees are scheduled for removal starting Saturday, with an additional 90 trees to be removed at a later date, according to the park service. The Interior Department, which oversees the park service, said in a statement that the work is part of a "7-year-old plan to address tree overgrowth" and is intended to restore the course's historic character and reopen views of landmarks such as the Washington Monument and the Potomac River.
President Donald Trump has been a proponent of the renovation, envisioning the course as a world-class golf destination capable of hosting major tournaments. Some residents and preservation groups have expressed concerns that the planned changes could alter the character of the course, which has served a wide range of Washingtonians for over a century, potentially leading to higher fees and a reduction in public space.
The 106-year-old public course has been the subject of a lawsuit filed in February by the DC Preservation League and other plaintiffs. They argue that the proposed reconstruction would violate the congressional act that established the park in 1897. The group had previously sought an emergency stop-work order, concerned that work might commence immediately.
The park service stated that the golf course will remain open to the public during the renovation, though individual holes may close temporarily as work progresses. The Interior Department emphasized that the "carefully planned work is part of our required stewardship of the park."