Timeline
In 2020, the National Park Service (NPS) awarded National Links Trust (NLT) a 50-year concession
The 50-year lease is to manage the three municipal courses located on federal land within the Nation’s capital - Langston, East Potomac, and Rock Creek Park Golf Course.
In January 2023, NPS and NLT held a Public Meeting Presentation and in July 2023 they presented a Draft Assessment of Effects
At no time during these public engagement opportunities did NPS or NLT mention there would be extensive tree removal. Instead they talked about addressing deferred maintenance and touted the “environmental sustainability” of the project.
In September 2023, NPS released the Environmental Assessment and told … no one!
Not the people who had been at the presentations, not the people who had submitted comments through the website, not any of the course’s immediate neighbors. NLT did the same and told none of their “community partners” Casey Trees, Anacostia Watershed Society, Rock Creek Conservancy, and DC Department of Energy and Environment. In the 20 emails NLT sent out to its subscribers during that time, they did not mention the Environmental Assessment once.
On October 24, 2023, 20 environmental organizations penned a Coalition Letter asking for a 60-day extension of the comment period
Shortly after having been alerted about the removal of 1,262 trees foreseen in the Environmental Assessment, 20 organizations requested a 60-day extension to the comment period to allow proper review. The request was denied and a 10-day extension was given until November 4, 2023.
3,212 members of the public sent comments to the NPS
By the 4th of November, 3,212 members of the public had sent in their comments on the Environmental Assessment to NPS. Over 90% of comments opposed the proposed plan. See image below with approximation by ward.
During the comment period, many of the local and national organizations that care for our trees, wildlife, watershed, air and youth submitted substantive comment to NPS
These organizations include (click the links to read some of these detailed, substantive comments):
City Wildlife
Nature Forward
Coalition for Smarter Growth
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
Sierra Club
Latin American Youth Center
Washington Latin School
Audubon Society
Avian Consulting Services
Brookmont Church Creation Justice Committee
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Climate Communications Coalition
DC Audubon Society
DC Environmental Network
Friends of the Rouge
Garden Club of America
Guilford Garden Club
Holy Trinity Catholic Parish DC
Maryland ornythological society
Montgomery Bird Club
Olmsted Network
Pilgrim Art Foundation
Tree Stewards of Alexandria & Arlington
Trowel Garden Club
Urban Forestry Alliance
On April 17, 2024, NPS released the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
The FONSI essentially rubber-stamped the Environmental Assessment ignoring almost 3,000 commenters who had asked NPS to remove significantly fewer trees, offer an additional alternative to “do nothing” or the proposed plan, and/or eliminate the golf course and reforest it or put it to another use. The only meaningful change between the Environmental Assessment and the FONSI is an increase in the number of trees that will potentially be removed - from 1,212 to 1,364.
On April 30, 2024, a group of organizations and individuals asked for a postponement of consideration by the National Capital Planning Commission
Given the “serious issues with the project planning and public participation process, including a failure to provide necessary information for the public and the Commission to consider the project’s full implications” a request to postpone consideration and a final decision was sent to the National Capital Planning Commission.
On May 1, 2024, the tree survey conducted in 2022 was finally released
After six months of public request, NPS released the ARC GIS map showing the trees to be removed two hours before the deadline to submit comments to the National Capital Planning Commission. See NPS’ detailed tree spreadsheet and additional information about the trees to be cut down in the FAQs.
On May 2, 2024, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) decided to postpone final approval of the “rehabilitation” plan
Having received over two hundred comments of which 2/3 were in opposition, having heard from over 40 witnesses of whom 2/3 were in opposition, and after lengthy discussion, the NCPC decided to delay its final approval of the plan, citing inadequate public engagement, the number of trees to be removed, the artificial lighting, and other environmental concerns raised by public stakeholders.
Joint Letter to National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)
On May 14th, members of our coalition submitted a letter thanking the NCPC commissioners and correcting key misrepresentations of facts that happened during the May 2nd meeting. Read it here.
Youth leaders asked Gil Hanse for an alternative design
On May 24th, youth leaders from different high schools in DC asked renowned golf architect Gil Hanse to work with them to “come to a compromise that will give the course both your creative style and our generation’s enthusiastic support.” Read their letter here.
12 community organizations asked NPS for the plan to be revised to consider alternative course design
In their letter of recommendations of May 29, 2024, Sierra Club, DC Bird Alliance, DC Environmental Network, Langdon Park Forest Stewards, DC Chapter - DarkSky International, City Wildlife, Avian Consulting Services, Nature Forward, Ward 8 Woods Conservancy, Washington Parks & People, and DC Youth Climate Corps stated “A failure of this planning process is the lack of consideration of alternative layouts for the golf course that would minimize environmental impacts. […] No alternatives were provided for the course layout, which is the core issue and driver of environmental impacts.”
Local organizations launch letter writing campaign to Deb Haaland
In a press release issued on May 29, 2024, the coalition launches a letter writing campaign to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland asking her to retract the FONSI and direct NPS to come up with a better plan. The campaign is sponsored by Sierra Club DC Chapter and co-sponsored by Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Nature Forward, DC League of Women Voters, and others.
Series of community engagement meetings on the golf course begins
On May 30, 2024, Rock Creek Park Golf Course For All launches a weekly series of events on the golf course, with talks by scientists, poets, birders, etc. to keep the public informed on this campaign and elicit their opinions.
Coalition meets with Congresswoman Norton
On June 24, 2024, members of the coalition including youth leaders, scientists, Dark Sky International DC Chapter, and DC League of Women Voters met with Eleanor Holmes Norton to ask for her help in obtaining critical information about the proposed plan that is still missing.
Rock Creek Park Golf Course for All warns NCPC about significant gaps and misleading information
In our letters of June 26, 2024 and August 7, 2024, we warned the NCPC that Public engagement under NEPA has been insufficient, Factually incorrect representations during the NEPA process, Protection of an Endangered Species is Imperiled, Lack of compliance with DOI Secretarial Order 3399 and Departmental Manual 523 Chapter 1, Further misleading information by NPS/NLT, Critical gaps in requirements to address deferred maintenance, Changes made since FONSI are not a legal obligation on NLT’s part.
NCPC grants final approval to NPS/NLT plans
On September 5, 2024, after an eight hour hearing during which ample arguments were brought against the final approval, the commissioners of the NCPC approved in a baffling decision.
“Lawyer Letter” warning about illegality of 2020 Lease is sent to NPS
On October 11, 2024, environmental lawyer Andrea Ferster sent letter on behalf of Rock Creek Park Golf Course for All warning about several environmental and historic deficiencies in the singing of the 50-year lease and asked for any approvals on construction or tree removal to be halted.