Over 500 trees felled in one weekend

Workers removed 529 trees Saturday at East Potomac Park golf course in Washington, D.C., managed by the National Park Service. The Trump administration is remodeling the course.

Judge calls removal inexcusable

Preservationists asked a judge Sunday to halt the removal. On Monday, a judge called the removal inexcusable, according to the article.

Historic trees lost to development

The course contained elms, oaks, pines, and willows, plus some of the three thousand Japanese flowering cherry trees gifted by Japan in nineteen twelve. A century of landscape design history was removed.

Trees told story of golf in America

The trees documented golf's evolution from a mostly treeless game on U.S. coasts to a sport known for big, lush vegetation. Their removal erased that historical record.

Removal happened faster than planned

The removal happened faster than anticipated, according to the lawsuit filed by the D.C. Preservation League and local golfers seeking to pause further tree removal.

Environmental law allegedly violated

Attorneys say the Trump administration did not meet obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act. They filed for emergency action to halt further removal.

Pattern of circumventing protections

Abbe D. Lowell, representing plaintiffs, said pulling a fast one has become the model this administration uses to circumvent laws protecting the environment and D.C. landmarks.

“Pulling a fast one has become the model this administration uses to circumvent the laws intended to protect the environment and D.C. landmarks.”

Previous projects cited as precedent

Lowell said the administration used the same approach with the East Wing and the Kennedy Center. Plaintiffs are continuing efforts to stop further destruction.

Course sits on Potomac River island

East Potomac Park occupies a small island in the Potomac River just south of the National Mall. Its earliest vegetation was tall grass and willow trees.

First course designed in 1917

Golf course architect Walter J. Travis designed the first course at East Potomac Park in nineteen seventeen, clearing most willows from fairways but keeping trees along perimeters.

Parkland style brought more trees

A new golf course design style called parkland style emerged in the nineteen twenties, leading to more trees being planted over the years to adapt to changing tastes.

Landscape history documented in 2017

A two thousand seventeen cultural landscape inventory by the Urban Heritage Project from the University of Pennsylvania's Stuart Weitzman School of Design documented the course's design evolution.