Rock Creek Tennis Center leasing process flawed from the start; Trump administration prioritizes private interest over public access and protection of public land, waters and wildlife.
WASHINGTON – Today, the National Parks Conservation Association highlights records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that reveal Trump administration officials ignored Park Service objections to a flawed leasing process for the Rock Creek Tennis Center. Expert Park Service staff, that have spent their career protecting parks in and around the capital city region, warned Trump leadership that the potential lease conflicted with legal requirements, would harm threatened and endangered species, and restrict community access. All were seemingly ignored.
Statement by Ed Stierli, Mid-Atlantic Senior Director for the National Parks Conservation Association
“These documents once again show how the Trump administration continues to bulldoze through Washington D.C.’s national parks. They are handing public lands to private interests and ignoring the laws designed to protect national parks that belong to all Americans.
“Expert Park Service staff here are working hard to protect Rock Creek Park and the lands and values that are so important to Washington and our nation. Their statements throughout these documents show that they’ve been repeatedly ignored and overruled as they identified numerous concerns and legal deficiencies in the proposed Rock Creek Tennis Center expansion. This includes expanding the tennis facility into a larger sports and entertainment complex on park lands and habitat that are home to the federally endangered Hays Spring amphipod –a species found nowhere else on Earth. The proposed expanded tennis facility would also remove access to enjoyed public picnic areas and green space beloved by locals and visitors alike.
“All of this shows the repeated pattern of monetizing our national parks for the benefit of the highest bidder. These actions go against the very values our parks represent and the reasons they were set aside for protection more than a century ago.
“Before any agreement is signed, the Park Service must reject this proposal. The administration must complete the required environmental reviews, promote a competitive process, and ensure America’s public lands are not handed over to private developers.”
BACKGROUND: Rock Creek Park is one the oldest and largest urban national parks in the United States. The park spans more than 2,700 acres through the heart of Washington, D.C. and draws millions of visitors each year who come to hike, bike, picnic, and find respite from the surrounding city. The park’s Brightwood Recreation Area serves as vital green space for surrounding neighborhoods, offering open lawns, picnic areas, a playground, hiking trails, and recreational amenities. The adjacent Carter Barron Amphitheater is a beloved 4,200-seat outdoor performance venue within the park’s wooded landscape that has hosted low-cost concerts.
The Rock Creek Tennis Center is operated under a concession agreement with the National Park Service, originally constructed in 1989 in collaboration with the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation. It currently serves both recreational players and hosts professional tournaments.
The documents obtained highlight that administration officials seemingly ignored Park Service staff objections to push a flawed lease process for the Rock Creek Tennis Center. Career Park Service staff warned leadership that the lease ignored legal requirements, would harm threatened and endangered species, and impact community access. This includes skipping the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. NEPA is a bedrock environmental law that helps give people a voice in how their public lands are used, ensuring impacts to our air, water and wildlife are considered before development projects move forward.
About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.9 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
