National Park Service<\/a> has said that the debris tested positive for lead, chromium and other toxic metals.<\/p>\n\u201cWhen completed, this Course will have the ability to host Major Golf Tournaments, including The U.S. Open, The Ryder Cup, The PGA Championship, and other top PGA Tour events,\u201d Trump posted on social media in June. He said then that work was meant to begin on Sept. 1, but there were no signs of activity on the grounds this week.<\/p>\n
An image unveiled in May by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum showed an 18-hole course that he said would deliver \u201cchampionship-quality golf at affordable, highly discounted rates.\u201d<\/p>\n
A lawsuit challenging the golf course renovation argues that the Trump administration\u2019s redevelopment would violate the congressional act that created the park. The government is challenging the standing of the plaintiffs to sue.<\/p>\n
At the park, people who spoke to The Associated Press noted that in some of Trump’s other Washington projects, the administration has moved to make irrevocable changes and act faster than courts can respond. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe government currently is either playing by a different set of rules or just not playing by any rules at all,\u201d said Jason Levitt, 54, ending an hour of high-speed laps on his bike. <\/p>\n
At a court hearing Thursday about the park, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said as much, telling the government\u2019s attorney she understood the plaintiff’s wariness about changes made before they received proper approval, though she said she had not seen evidence of that in the golf course case. <\/p>\n
The administration has already removed dozens of trees from the park, although it says that is routine maintenance work.<\/p>\n
On a visit this week, the park drew cyclists, as well as retirees, workers on lunch break, and a couple of people who declined to speak to The Associated Press because they were meant to be at work as they hit the links for an afternoon of recreation. <\/p>\n
With dark clouds rolling in and patrons rushing to the clubhouse, the demographics were on full display: Men, women, black, Hispanic, and white golfers. They said they visited because of the park’s location, cost and history. They were aware that the park and golf courses, as they know it, might be on borrowed time.<\/p>\n
Foley, a retired lobbyist, said the region has many \u201cchampionship caliber courses already\u201d and said he was worried about the president’s plans.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one knows what he\u2019s going to do. Are the incredibly popular bike paths in jeopardy, too? Just look at how many bike riders are coming through Potomac Park and the golf course area at noon on a Wednesday,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Levitt, the cyclist, said he has been coming to the park for 20 years and rides about four times a week. A road that runs the perimeter of the park in one direction offers safe riding away from normal city traffic, but within the city. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is seen as a relatively safe place to come and kind of stay out of the way of traffic and everything else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Changes are coming, he said. \u201cLet\u2019s just hope that they make changes that are beneficial for everyone rather than just a certain type of golfer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Washington has long been at the whim of the federal government. Congress maintains significant control over the city’s affairs, including approving the budget and all laws passed by the D.C. Council. The Home Rule Act of 1973 lets residents elect a mayor, a council and neighborhood commissioners. <\/p>\n
That autonomy has only been further squeezed under Trump, who last year launched a law enforcement surge in the city that briefly federalized the local police force and deployed the National Guard through to 2029. His imprint on the city has affected not just iconic landmarks and tourist sites but also areas that locals visit frequently, such as East Potomac Park. <\/p>\n
Outgoing Mayor Muriel Bowser said this week the city could \u201cstand to attract world-class golf.\u201d<\/p>\n
But she told reporters after an event focused on using sports to draw visitors to the nation\u2019s capital, \u201cwe still need public access.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ryan Bates, 44, said he took up golf as an adult and has been coming to the park weekly for three and a half years. He noted that he has a membership at a private club but prefers to golf at East Potomac, citing its convenient location.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important tenet of it,\u201d he said, packing up his clubs after a round, \u201cis that golf should be an approachable game for people that come from all walks of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
Associated Press writer Steven Sloan contributed to this report. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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