President Donald Trump’s renovation project for East Potomac Park in Washington, DC, was put on hold a day before the historic Hains Point space was to be closed for 15 months.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a temporary restraining order on Saturday, which was obtained from athletics, on the eve of the scheduled closing of the course. Trump had it before announced East Potomac Golf Links and the park will close on Sunday, although the judge ruled that Trump’s order to close the area appeared to be the start of the renovation process to transform the area into its 18-hole championship design.
The course and park remain open for now.
“President Trump ordered this closure for one reason: so that work could begin on a new Fazio Design to replace the current East Potomac Golf Course,” Reyes wrote in his decision. The judge also said the Trump administration was not required to operate the course while the case proceeded.
Saturday was just the latest development in a complex story dominated the news cycle the last two months.
In a Social Truth post before Saturday’s decision, Trump said East Potomac, which is federally owned, is the “Worst Golf Course in the World” and that its fairways are too close together. He had previously called it “dangerous”.
Recently, the govt presented a proposal for East Potomac Golf Links and the park to the National Capital Planning Commission. East Potomac Golf Links is 36 holes (one 18-hole course and two nine-hole courses), although the proposal called for a project to turn it into a high-quality 18-hole championship course that can host major championships and even a Ryder Cup. The plan also eliminated some of the park’s public recreation space used by walkers, bicyclists and non-golfers.
Trump’s plan has been opposed by locals with few accessible and affordable golf options in the area, as well as those who frequent the park and want to preserve it.
Last month, more than 400 trees were cut down on the course, although Reyes prohibited the administration from removing more trees without having a court order.
Reyes’ first sentence of his decision Saturday read: “The Department of the Interior has moved from removing trees to removing people from East Potomac Park.”
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