Park service to remove 500 trees at Washington golf course

President Donald Trump plans to turn East Potomac Golf Links into a major championship venue in Washington. The federal effort will clear hundreds of trees to upgrade the historic grounds. The project began with a new round of tree removals near the National Mall.

More than 500 trees “that do not contribute to the historic landscape will be removed,” the National Park Service stated in a court filing Friday. The agency stated that “no healthy trees that are contributing features of the historical golf course” will fall.

Historic cherry trees will remain safe on the grounds, according to the court filing. Crews will remove 169 trees starting Saturday. Another 90 trees will come down later.

The park service “recognizes the importance of trees to the park and its visitors. This carefully planned work is part of our required stewardship of the park,” the Interior Department said in a statement Saturday.

The department said the work implements a 7-year-old plan for tree overgrowth. Selective cutting will reopen views toward the Washington Monument, the National War College, the Potomac River and the Washington Channel.

Work is underway. The venue will stay open during construction, but workers may close individual holes temporarily.

Trump visited the site with a cabinet member, blueprints and a golf course architect. Some Washington, D.C., residents fear the plan will bring costlier fees. They also fear a loss of public space.

The 106-year-old public site has been involved in a lawsuit since February. Plaintiffs include the DC Preservation League. The group argued the reconstruction violates the 1897 congressional act that created the park.

The group sought an emergency stop-work order in the spring. Trump posted his ambitions on social media in late June.

When completed, this Course will have the ability to host Major Golf Tournaments, including The U.S. Open, The Ryder Cup, The PGA Championship, and other top PGA Tour events.

It remains unconfirmed when the venue could host any tournament. Organizers choose locations several years ahead of major events.

The Interior Department manages public lands and oversees the National Park Service. Federal agencies maintain public parks under guidelines established by acts of Congress. Lawsuits challenging federal park management often seek court orders to delay construction projects.

Trump has deployed the National Guard in Washington for over a year. He has also torn down or renamed several storied structures across the capital.