Olympic canoeist cleared of Reflecting Pool vandalism fights proposed golf course redesign
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Three-time Olympian David Hearn, acquitted of charges related to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, is now leading opposition to a Trump administration plan to convert East Potomac Park into a championship golf course.
David Hearn, a three-time Olympic canoeist, was acquitted in October after a federal judge dismissed with prejudice a felony indictment that alleged he damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The case, brought by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, was dismissed after the government’s own filing acknowledged that the pool’s problems stemmed from a "botched" renovation rather than vandalism.
Following his exoneration, Hearn joined a crowd of cyclists and local residents at East Potomac Park, where the Trump administration is planning to remodel the public golf course into a professional-level facility. The proposal, estimated to cost between $20 million and $49 million, includes the removal of up to 730 trees and the elimination of a popular bike path.
"I’m appalled at the disrespect by the NPS for our generators of oxygen and sources of shade which help keep the city cooler," Hearn said in a text message referencing the tree-cutting.
"This is our house. We will defend our house," he told the assembled crowd, urging continued public involvement.
Local officials, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, have described Hearn as an "everyman" who embodies community resistance to the redevelopment plan. The administration argues the work is routine maintenance, while preservation groups view it as part of a broader effort to reshape the capital’s public spaces.
Hearn, who previously faced arrest after touching the Reflecting Pool during a bike ride, said he will keep defending what he calls democratic public spaces. The rally concluded with supporters thanking the Olympian and taking photographs.