Rehabilitating the Rock Creek Park Golf Course

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Rock Creek Park covers nearly 1,800 acres of Washington, D.C., and for more than a century it has offered active recreation, education and a quiet escape from the city, as well as a haven for wildlife. One of its historic features, the Rock Creek Park Golf Course, which dates to the early 1900s, is set for a major rehabilitation.

The National Park Service and the National Links Trust (NLT) hope to carry out the project together, aiming to preserve the course's cultural heritage while improving its ecological health and what it offers golfers and visitors.

Balancing recreation and conservation

The partners describe the project as a response to the changing needs of the park and its visitors, balancing recreation with protection of natural habitats. "Our goal is to enhance the golf course in a way that is mindful of its environmental impact and respectful of the park's natural resources," said Brian Joyner, acting superintendent of Rock Creek Park.

A key part of the plan is selective tree removal and replanting. Only trees that are unhealthy, pose risks, or seriously interfere with play on the historic public course would come down, and native species would be planted, to keep the park's ecosystem healthy, protect wildlife habitat and support biodiversity.

Sustainability

The project is meant to shrink the course's environmental footprint through:

better water management;
energy-efficient lighting that reduces light pollution;
turf management methods with less impact.

History

The rehabilitation would preserve and restore key historic features of the course and work them into the new design. "We are not just improving a golf course; we are revitalizing a piece of Washington's history," said Michael Stachowicz, the Park Service's project manager for golf course leases. "This project is about creating a space that honors the past while looking toward the future. It's about providing a recreational resource that serves park visitors in a sustainable way."

Public input and next steps

The Park Service and NLT have sought comments from park visitors, neighbors and environmental groups, and say that input has shaped the plan. The work is expected to proceed in phases over several years, each designed to improve the park's natural and recreational resources.

Joyner called the project "more than just a facelift" and "a renewal of the park's spirit," saying that sustainable practices, habitat protection and attention to history would keep the course a cherished resource for generations.