This is my personal account as the DC Tri Club President following the November 12 Congressional Lobby Day
Wow! What a day!
With the exception of a weekend tour a few years ago, today was the first time I’ve ever been in the halls of Congress, and certainly the first time I’ve been involved in lobbying efforts. As President of the DC Triathlon Club and an avid user of East Potomac Park, I took the opportunity to show up, share my perspective, and learn a lot about the current state of the potential closing of East Potomac Park.
Honestly, my head was spinning by the end of the day, but I’ll do my best to lay out some of what I learned, what we can do, and how others can speak up.
First, a little background
Today’s Washington Post article lays out an excellent summary of the background. Well-worth the $2 paywall to read it: Shabby Public Golf Course That Became Key To Trump’s Makeover
This article (and informational video) from Golf.com adds more insight and asks some great questions: President Trump East Potomac Golf Links Plans
Among other things, it explains how the government submitted a 55-page concept proposal for East Potomac Golf Links and the surrounding park to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) on November 3. The proposal begins with a reinforced seawall that is expected to cost $304.5 million and take between 2.5 and 3.5 years to complete. The plan involves private funds and the government is planning to close the park after this weekend.
There is a lot to unpack in those articles and the 55-page proposal, and I encourage everyone to read both articles to better understand what’s being proposed and what’s at stake.
What You Can Do
Stopping this devastation is going to take a lot of people. And there are concrete things you can do to help protect Hains Point and the beautiful public space that it is.
1. Follow the organizations leading the effort
Several organizations are working together to protect East Potomac Park. Follow their updates, reach out with questions, and ask how you can get involved.
These organizations are doing important work on multiple fronts, from legal action to advocacy and public engagement. They are excellent starting points for anyone looking to help.
2. Follow the legal battle — and show up
The DC Preservation League is leading important legal efforts. For example, you can attend tomorrow’s hearing (November 13 at 10:00 AM), either in person or online, to see whether they are successful in requesting a restraining order to prevent the closing of Hains Point.
There are essentially two battles happening:
- The future of the existing golf course.
- The future of the mixed-use areas of East Potomac Park, including Ohio Drive, which the general public uses for cycling, running, walking, fishing, flying kites, picnicking, tennis, softball, training for hikes, and so much more.
There is already an injunction to stop development of the actual golf course, although that injunction is being appealed. Tomorrow’s Nov 13 hearing is about requesting a restraining order to keep the mixed-use areas open while the golf course questions are resolved.
Both battles matter, and it’s important to understand that protecting the golf course and protecting public access to the rest of East Potomac Park are related but distinct issues.
3. Attend the December 3 National Capital Planning Commission meeting
The National Capital Planning Commission will be considering the proposal that the government submitted for East Potomac Golf Links and the surrounding park at its December 3 meeting. Note: This is the same commission that recently approved the plans for the arch.
Website: https://www.ncpc.gov/ Meeting agenda: https://www.ncpc.gov/review/agenda/
The meeting is hybrid and open to the public. Commissioners and staff will be in person at NCPC’s offices, while members of the public and project applicants can participate either online or in person.
Important dates and details:
- November 13, 2026: The meeting agenda is expected to be announced.
- November 27, 2026: The final agenda will be available.
- December 2, 2026, at 12:00 noon: Deadline for written comments and to register to speak.
- December 3, 2026: NCPC meeting.
No registration is required to attend, but you must register in advance if you want to speak. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. Contact [email protected] or call 202.482.7200.
WRITE TO THEM!
Public comments matter. If you care about Hains Point, East Potomac Park, and public access to our shared spaces, make your voice heard.
4. Write to your elected officials — especially those responsible for funding
This is another important piece of the multi-pronged approach, although it is more of a long-term strategy.
Congress moves much more slowly than the immediate November 15 deadline, so contacting elected officials may not help resolve the immediate threat of the park closing. However, it is important when it comes to preventing the government from misappropriating taxpayer funds to finance a golf course intended for an elite few.
In particular, we should be contacting the people who oversee funding for national parks and the proposed seawall:
The U.S. House and U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
These are the committees responsible for overseeing the relevant appropriations.
Below are the members of the subcommittees in the 119th Congress. If you are constituents of these members, I highly recommend reaching out to them and sharing the information in this 1-pager we received today. 
U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
The House subcommittee currently consists of 11 members (7 Republicans and 4 Democrats), along with two ex officio members.
Majority – Republicans
- Chair: Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID)
- Vice Chair: Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT)
- Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV)
- Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)
- Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX)
- Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT)
- Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX)
Minority – Democrats
- Ranking Member: Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
- Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)
- Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA)
- Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC)
Non-voting Ex officio members:
- Full Committee Chair Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK)
- Full Committee Ranking Member Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
The Senate subcommittee includes 13 regular members (7 Republicans and 6 Democrats), alongside two ex officio full committee leaders.
Majority – Republicans
- Chair: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
- Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND)
- Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE)
- Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)
- Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH)
Minority – Democrats
- Ranking Member: Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
- Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
- Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
- Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
- Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
Ex officio members:
- Full Committee Chair Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
- Full Committee Ranking Member Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
5. Keep an eye on developments over the weekend and over the next few months.
If the restraining order is unsuccessful, some members of the community are reportedly planning to gather at Hains Point around midnight on Sunday, November 15, as the closure deadline approaches. This is a rapidly evolving situation.
A Call to Action:
Hains Point is more than a golf course.
It’s a public park, a training ground, a gathering place, and an important part of our local community.
DC Tri Club has a meaningful stake here:
- Hundreds of our members train individually at Hains Point.
- Our Wednesday rides have been using the park for years.
- We organize two to three events there each year.
- Hains Point is part of the broader network of public roads and paths that support training for events like the Army Ten-Miler, Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, and Marine Corps Marathon.
This isn’t just about triathlon. It’s about protecting public access to public spaces for everyone who runs, rides, walks, fishes, plays sports, enjoys nature, or simply wants to spend time outside.
You don’t have to be a DC Tri Club member to care about this. And you don’t have to be an experienced advocate or lobbyist to make a difference.
Here’s what you can do:
- Stay informed. Follow the organizations listed above and keep up with developments.
- Speak up. Write to the National Capital Planning Commission and your elected representatives.
- Show up. Attend public meetings, hearings, and advocacy events when you can.
- Spread the word. Share credible information with friends, family, fellow athletes, and your broader community.
- Get involved. Reach out to the organizations leading the effort and ask what help they need.
Every email, public comment, conversation, and person who shows up helps demonstrate how much this space means to our community.
This Is a Developing Story: Stay Informed in the Coming Weeks and Months
I’ll be honest: today was a real rollercoaster of emotions.
Hope that something can be done to stop this devastation from moving forward, followed by a defeatist attitude that they are just going to steamroll this and destroy our wonderful Hains Point in the process.
There are a lot of moving pieces, multiple legal and political battles, and decisions that will unfold over the coming weeks and months. What happens on November 13, November 15, and December 3 matters, but this story will not end there.
Stay alert and stay informed.
Follow the organizations doing the work. Watch for updates on the legal proceedings and NCPC meetings. Pay attention to what is happening in Congress and how public funds are being allocated. And, most importantly, continue to look for opportunities to make your voice heard.
We’ll do our best to share relevant updates with the DC Tri Club community as this situation evolves. Follow on instagram (@dctriclub) and members can follow in the DC Tri Club Discord (#tri-talk channel and look for the East Potomac Park thread)
I don’t know if these efforts will successfully stop these plans and protect East Potomac Park for generations to come.
But I do know that I, and many others, are choosing action rather than simply sitting on the sidelines, caught in a rollercoaster of hope and despair.
Stay involved. Speak up. Speak out. This is not over.
PUBLIC PARKS. PUBLIC PATHS. PUBLIC ACCESS.