News Release

Rock Creek Park Golf Course environmental assessment comment period extended until Nov. 4

Date: October 24, 2023
Contact: Autumn Cook, 771-215-6954

WASHINGTON— The public comment period concerning the Environmental Assessment (EA) for rehabilitation of the Rock Creek Golf Course has been extended to Nov. 4. 

The EA proposes improvements that will address the golf course’s maintenance needs, increase playability, and broaden course appeal while focusing on historic preservation, environmental sustainability, diversifying golf programming and creating a vibrant community resource. 

The Rock Creek Park Golf Course represents a significant period in the history of golf in the United States and the development of municipal recreation in Washington, DC. Additionally, it is an important local work of golf course architect William S. Flynn and a largely intact example of a course designed during the period referred to as the Golden Age of golf course architecture. The golf course is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Rock Creek Park Historic District. 

Today, the golf course retains much of its integrity but is experiencing overgrown, encroaching vegetation that has narrowed the fairways and decreased playability; a lack of clear pathways for pedestrians and golf carts; the lack of a driving range; the deterioration of turf grass throughout the course; and limited facilities to accommodate golf course operations, golfers and non-golfers. 

To restore the course, the National Park Service is proposing to remove more than 1,200 trees, of this total, more than 366 were determined to be in poor health or already dead, and nearly 190 are non-native, invasive species that pose a threat to native plant species, and nearly 291 are being removed to promote forest health. To mitigate for these tree removals, up to 200 native species trees would be planted in the course. Also, more than eight acres of meadows would be rehabilitated throughout the golf course, and an additional 4.5 acres would be planted in the northern section of the course. This would significantly increase the amount of meadow habitat in Rock Creek Park, a critically important action for the preservation of native pollinator species such as the Monarch butterfly and the many bee species that live in the park. 

The EA describes two potential plans — no-action or golf course rehabilitation — and analyzes the potential impacts of either alternative on the natural, historic and human environment, consistent with the treatment recommendations outlined in the 2019 Cultural Landscape Report.  

In October 2020, the NPS signed a 50-year lease with National Links Trust (NLT) to operate three historic golf courses in Washington, D.C., including Rock Creek Park Golf Course. NLT will fund the improvements. 

How to Comment: 
To submit comments online or get additional information about the EA, visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/rockcreekgolfplan.  

If you prefer to mail your comments, be sure they are postmarked by Nov 4. to receive consideration. Mail comments to: 

Superintendent 
Rock Creek Park 
Attn: Golf Course Rehab 
3545 Williamsburg Lane NW 
Washington, DC 20008 

Please be aware that the entire comment submitted, including personal identifying information such as address, phone number and email address, may be made publicly available. We will consider requests to withhold such personal identifying information from public release, but there is no guarantee that it will be withheld. 

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