Will Edwards, born and raised in southwest D.C., has been coming to East Potomac Park his entire life.
On a warm Monday evening, he and his family set up camp near Hains Point, the island park’s southern tip. They had a portable table, some chairs and some toys for Edwards’ son. A dinner of chicken and biscuits was spread out in front of them. Fishing rods hung on the fence.
“This has been a landmark for years,” Edwards said. “Years.”
Before he was married, Edwards said he used to come down here looking to meet women at social events. His wife, Carla, has different but also fond memories: as a child, she used to crawl on The Awakening, a large sculpture that was once located at Hains Point but has since moved to Maryland.
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The lines from Edwards’ rods were being gently tugged by the water as he discussed the many types of fish he hoped to catch.
“Catfish, maybe a cod. Alligator gar,” he said.
Not far from the family sat a discarded container of chicken gizzards, popular bait for blue crabs.
To Carla, the park creates a sense of community.
“Most people see you fishing, they offer their bait,” she said.
But the future of these Edwards family trips to East Potomac is uncertain. The park has served as a political football in the months since President Donald Trump announced his intention to renovate the golf links at its center — an extensive project that would likely impact the entire island.
Much of the discussion in the months since has been centered on golf and golfers, but the park has a long history of recreation beyond the links. East Potomac also features tennis courts, a playground and abundant green space. Hains Point is a popular destination for picnics and weekend gatherings. In nice weather, the wide road that encircles the park is often filled with runners and bicyclists.
Early renderings of Trump’s plan seemed to spare Hains Point and other adjoining areas. But recently, Trump has been seen with new blueprints that suggest otherwise, creating a panic regarding the future of the park. On Saturday, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association hosted a rally called “Hains Point Hoopla” to raise awareness about the public amenities that could be at stake.
Trump has said he would like construction to begin in September, but his plan is certain to face red tape.
In the meantime, the park continues to serve its regulars. On Monday night, plane after plane landed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, located directly across the water from the Edwards family. Will said any large-scale changes to the park would be “devastating.”
“This is somewhere people need to come, just to relax, despite a day,” he said. “Anybody could have a bad day, but they come here, they sit in the car, you know. Just relax.”
Earlier this month, four senators sent a letter to the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service seeking clarification on final plans for the park. The agencies are defendants in an ongoing lawsuit brought by the D.C. Preservation League and local residents, aimed at halting any proposed overhaul.
Neither the National Park Service or the Department of the Interior could be reached for comment.
This past winter, the Trump administration terminated a 50-year lease with the National Links Trust, the nonprofit tasked with managing the course. The Department of the Interior has since allowed the trust to operate the course until a “historic renovation” begins.
Torrence, who declined to give his last name because of privacy concerns, is also a District native who’s been coming to the park most of his life. Although he wasn’t aware of the proposed changes to the golf course, he has sensed more tension in the area.
“I’ve never had anybody ask for a fishing license down here, but now all of a sudden you have to have a fishing license, and they try to give you a citation or a ticket,” he told NOTUS. “This place was very peaceful at one point.”
Torrence said he comes to the park to “breathe life” and escape the reality of his densely populated city.
“We live in an inner city surrounded by concrete,” he said. “It’s not too much wildlife out here, outdoors things you can do. So this is one of the places that a lot of inner city people come to just release.”
Many regulars admit that the park needs upgrades. Some bathrooms are out and there is overgrowth on the waterfront. The park is not perfect, but it is where they choose to spend their time.
“If anything, give it a facelift,” Torrence said. “Pick up some of these broken-down trees and stuff around there. Invest money into this place.”
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