Washington golf course begins another round of tree removal

The National Park Service began a new phase of tree removal at Washington’s East Potomac Golf Course on October 10. President Donald Trump wants to rebuild the public course, where court documents outline plans to remove more than 500 trees.

The first stage covers 169 trees, with another 90 scheduled for removal later. The filings give an overall maximum of 529, CNN reported. Those figures describe planned removals, rather than a count of trees already felled.

Kevin Griess, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, said in an October 9 court filing that the clearing would proceed regardless of future redevelopment. The agency describes the work as maintenance separate from any redesign.

Trump wants a championship-level course at the site. Plaintiffs suing to stop the renovation dispute the administration’s separation of maintenance work from the broader project, according to CNN.