D.C.’s cyclist community is keeping a close eye on East Potomac Park, which is home to one of the city’s public golf courses that the Trump administration wants to renovate.
On Saturday, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) held its second Hains Point Hoopla to protest the Trump administration’s plan to transform the golf course at East Potomac Park into a championship course.
“This is not only a really key bicycling point, but it’s also a really important public, public space,” said WABA executive director Elizabeth Kiker.
The president took a trip to the park in June and posted to Truth Social that renovations would begin Sept. 1.
People grew concerned after alleged plans for the project surfaced showing little to no recreational space.
“The president’s plans with this peninsula dramatically shrink who this place actually serves, and we’re here to say that we are not okay with that,” said Alex Rosen with Save East Po.
The D.C. Preservation League has filed a lawsuit to try to stop the renovations.
Earlier this year, a federal judge told the Trump administration it must give reasonable notice if it planned to close the golf course, bring in construction equipment or cut down more than 10 trees.
However, this week, community members have noticed several trees have been cut down near the golf course.
News4 spotted what appeared to be crews getting ready to cut down more Saturday.
“This week we are losing 60 plus trees,” said D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen, who represents Ward 6. “By the end of this weekend, it could be even more. They are trying to tear down and break apart history.”
News4 reached out to the Trump administration, and a spokesperson for the department of interior responded saying, “Arborists are doing routine maintenance at East Potomac Park with selective removal of hazard trees, non-native invasive trees and declining and dying trees that cannot be brought back to good health through any degree of intervention.”
News4 also asked the administration for any update on whether renovations would begin soon but did not receive a response.
The community has no plans to stop protesting.
“I just hope that those in charge reconsider what they’re thinking of doing because I’m really afraid it’s not going to be for all of us,” said D.C. resident Marie Drissel.
