Judge In Dispute Over Washington Golf Course Tells Trump Officials Not To Cut Trees Without Notice

A national judge told nan U.S. authorities Monday not to trim down much than 10 trees without first providing announcement amid a ineligible conflict astatine a historical Washington play people that President Donald Trump plans to renovate.

U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes said during a distant proceeding that she wasn't going to rumor a impermanent restraining bid conscionable yet successful nan lawsuit brought by nan DC Preservation League. She besides told nan National Park Service that it should first talk immoderate plans pinch authorities lawyers if it was going to trim down much than 10 trees.

Monday's proceeding came aft nan plaintiff's emergency petition seeking to extremity activity astatine nan course, citing news reports that awesome renovations were to statesman Monday.

Kevin Griess, nan superintendent of nan National Mall and Memorial Parks for nan Park Service, said during nan proceeding location was nary scheme to statesman specified activity Monday but added that a information appraisal was underway.

Reyes told nan parties she didn't want to play nan domiciled of nan “Parks and Rec” department, an allusion to nan sitcom, but said she besides didn't want trees being bulldozed.

“I'm nary Amy Poehler," she said referring to nan show's star.

At 1 constituent during Monday's hearing, nan judge said she was made alert that closure signs had been put up astatine nan site, which led to Griess asking personification to check. He later reported that location were nary specified signs. Reyes asked that if immoderate specified signs were recovered that nan government's lawyer beryllium told.

The title revenge against nan Department of nan Interior argues that nan Trump administration’s reconstruction of East Potomac Park, including nan East Potomac Golf Course, would break nan legislature enactment that created nan parkland successful 1897. The astir 130-year-old enactment established nan parkland for nan “recreation and nan pleasance of nan people.” The people itself opened successful 1919.

Trump, an avid golfer, besides plans connected renovating a subject play people conscionable extracurricular of Washington that has been utilized by past presidents going backmost decades.