D.C. residents fight Trump golf redesign of Hains Point
A Trump proposal to redesign East Potomac Golf Links would close the D.C. park for 15 months and replace the current course with an 18-hole layout, according to a rendering. Local runners, cyclists, birders and others say Hains Point's road, picnic areas and waterfront access are essential public resources. Congress created the park in 1897 for public recreation, and opponents are organizing against the plan.
Congress set aside the site in 1897 as a public recreation ground. Hains Point, at East Potomac Park’s southern end, draws people to a three-mile waterfront loop, picnic spots, cherry trees and birding; runners use the flat road, and the Marine Corps Marathon course includes it.
Trump’s posted rendering shows an 18-hole layout covering the peninsula, including the playground and picnic area, with no perimeter road visible. He said the park would shut for 15 months from November, though government lawyers told a court Monday no final plan was known. Crews recently cut hundreds of trees.
The dispute could affect D.C. residents who rely on Hains Point for daily exercise, commuting, family outings and wildlife viewing, as well as race organizers and visitors. A long closure or redesign may alter access to a rare free waterfront space and could intensify debates over how public parkland is used. It may also test how federal officials balance recreation, conservation and golf operations, with consequences for local trust and future planning.