Federal Ruling Halts Sunday Closure of East Potomac Park Golf Site
US District Judge Ana Reyes issued a 30-page decision on November 14 blocking the federal government from shutting down Washington’s East Potomac Park to begin a 15-month golf course makeover. The injunction stops federal authorities from barring local residents, park visitors, and city recreational users from accessing the public waterfront grounds starting Sunday.
Reyes Rules Government Violated Federal Laws to Hit Arbitrary Deadline
East Potomac Park, located two miles south of the White House near the Jefferson Memorial, must stay open to the public even though federal authorities are not required to maintain active golf operations. Reyes ruled that the administration’s stated reasons for the immediate shutdown were pretextual and violated at least two federal statutes, noting that officials cannot use the stoppage of golf play as an excuse to clear citizens from the historic green space.
The decision marks the latest restriction imposed by Reyes in the lawsuit brought by the DC Preservation League and two local residents, who are represented by the legal organization Democracy Forward. Court proceedings in the case have previously resulted in an order barring the National Park Service from felling trees or altering the property without prior notice, alongside an ongoing judicial ethics inquiry into whether Justice Department attorneys misinformed the court regarding park timeline plans.
