Endangered Residents of Rock Creek Park Oppose National Park Service’s Golf Course Rehabilitation Plan
Photo by Ivan
Extinction Rebellion DC hosts press conference to give voice to the species that will experience the most harm from the golf course renovation project
Washington, DC – This morning, Extinction Rebellion DC (XRDC) hosted a press conference with endangered residents of Rock Creek Park and fellow community advocates to raise the alarm about the National Park Service’s damaging $35 million renovation plan for the Rock Creek Park Golf Course. The press conference comes just two days before dozens of community advocates will testify against the plan at the National Capital Planning Commission meeting, the final decision-making body that must give approval before the plan can move forward.
Speakers included Nathan Harrington from the Ward 8 Woods Conservancy and some of the species in the most danger from this plan: the Purple Martin, the Hay’s Spring Amphipod, the Northern Long-Eared Bat, and the American Elm.
By cutting more than 1,000 trees, expanding the clubhouse, and installing after-dark artificial lighting, the National Park Service’s current plan severely damages wildlife habitat, worsens the city’s air quality, exacerbates the urban heat island effect, and contributes to the climate crisis, undermining the wellbeing of DC residents, especially marginalized communities.
“The endangered residents of Rock Creek Park were clear today: the National Park Service’s plan threatens their existence. And when one species in an ecosystem is threatened, the whole ecosystem is thrown out of balance. The long-term harm this ‘rehabilitation’ project will create is not worth the short-term gains,” said Carol Spring (she/her), spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion DC. “In the face of the ongoing climate and ecological crises, we cannot afford to lose vitality in the largest park in DC. The National Capital Planning Commission must reject this plan, and NPS must create a new plan that protects the Rock Creek ecosystem as a whole, mitigates climate change, and integrates robust, broad input from the community, especially those neighboring the golf course and those already most impacted by the climate crisis.”
In 2023, the National Park Service (NPS) presented the plan to rehabilitate and address the deferred maintenance at the Rock Creek Park Golf Course. The plan itself includes cutting more than 1,000 trees, installing a 50-bay driving range with bright lights that will stay illuminated past sunset, and expanding the clubhouse equipped with a full restaurant. Despite over 90% of the public comments opposing the plan, NPS approved the plan in spring of this year, with final approval still pending from the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC).
XRDC launched its campaign to Save Rock Creek just weeks prior by delivering demands to NPS (read the full demand letter here). Several XRDC rebels will testify at Thursday’s NCPC meeting in opposition to the plan alongside dozens of other community advocates.
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