Protesters Gather as Trees Removed at East Potomac Golf Links Amid Plans for Renovation

Activists gathered at East Potomac Golf Links on Hains Point in late July to protest the removal of trees and the announced renovation of the historic course. The group, which displayed t-shirts reading “Save Hains Point” and “Fore the People, Not the President,” said they would continue demonstrations until the work is halted or the plans are disclosed. > "We plan to keep protesting until the work is stopped and/or the plans are shared," WABA executive director Elizabeth Kiker told the Daily Beast.

Park workers removed six trees on Saturday, bringing the total reported removal to about 60, according to an unofficial count. The Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, said the cuts were part of routine maintenance, describing them as the removal of hazard trees, non-native invasive species, and trees that are dying or declining and cannot be restored.

Kiker expressed skepticism, noting that the trees did not appear to be in poor condition and suggesting the removals could precede broader changes to the site. A lawsuit filed by the DC Preservation League and two local golfers challenging the renovation remains pending, and a district judge has not issued a definitive ruling on the matter.

Local resident Alex Rosen, founder of Save East Po, said hundreds of people assembled to convey that the park belongs to the public, not to a single individual’s development plans. He warned that the proposed luxury golf course could restrict access for residents who use the area for recreation.