马修·达利 华盛顿 — — 随着特朗普政府推进将东波托马克高尔夫球场改造成冠军级球场的计划，国家公园管理局已在国家广场附近的一个历史悠久的高尔夫球场启动新一轮的树木砍伐。
MATTHEW DALY WASHINGTON — The National Park Service has begun a new round of tree-cutting at a historic golf course near the National Mall as the Trump administration proceeds with a plan to renovate the East Potomac Golf Links into a championship-level course.
国家公园管理局周五在法庭文件中表示，作为修复项目的一部分，“将移除超过500棵不构成历史景观的树木”。公园管理局表示，“不会移除任何对历史高尔夫球场具有贡献特征的健康树木” — — 包括历史悠久的樱花树 — — 作为该项目的一部分。
More than 500 trees “that do not contribute to the historic landscape will be removed” as part of the rehabilitation project, the National Park Service said in a court filing Friday. “No healthy trees that are contributing features of the historical golf course” — including historic cherry trees — will be removed as part of the project, the park service said.
该机构表示，从周六开始将移除169棵树木，另有90棵树木计划稍后移除。
A total of 169 trees will be removed starting Saturday, with another 90 trees slated for removal later, the agency said.
随着特朗普总统推动将该球场打造成世界级高尔夫场地 — — 这是他对华盛顿特区的宏伟愿景的一部分，他在那里拆除了具有历史意义的建筑，翻新或更名了其他建筑，并部署了国民警卫队超过一年 — — 树木移除工作随之展开。
The tree removals come as President Donald Trump has moved to turn the course into a world-class golf venue — part of his grand vision for Washington, D.C. , where he has torn down storied structures, remade or renamed others and deployed the National Guard for more than a year.
一些居民担心，对高尔夫球场的计划性改造 — — 特朗普曾在此与内阁成员、知名高尔夫球场建筑师和蓝图会面 — — 可能会改变一个服务于华盛顿特区各收入层级居民超过一个世纪的地方的特色。将公园改造成高端高尔夫球场将意味着更高的费用以及公共空间的可能丧失。
Some residents fear the planned changes to the golf course — where Trump has visited with a cabinet member, a well-known golf course architect and blueprints — risk altering the character of a place that has served Washingtonians of all income levels for more than a century. Turning the park into an upscale golf course will mean costlier fees and a likely loss of public space.
“国家公园管理局终于在实施一项7年前制定的计划，以应对东波托马克高尔夫球场的树木过度生长问题，”内政部周六在一份声明中表示。该部门负责监督国家公园管理局以及管理联邦土地的其他机构。
“The National Park Service is finally implementing a 7-year-old plan to address tree overgrowth at East Potomac Golf Course,’' the Interior Department said in a statement Saturday. The department oversees the park service and other agencies that manage federal lands.
翻新工作将包括选择性的树木和植被处理，以恢复球场，内政部表示，并补充说，此项工作旨在“帮助恢复球场的历史特色，重新打开通往地标的视野，包括华盛顿纪念碑、国家战争学院、波托马克河和华盛顿航道。”公园管理局表示，“公园管理局认识到树木对公园及其游客的重要性。这项精心规划的工作是我们对公园所承担的必要管理职责的一部分。”声明中如此称。
The renovation work will include selective tree and vegetation work to restore the course, the Interior Department said, adding that the work is intended to “help restore the course’s historic character and reopen views toward landmarks, including the Washington Monument, National War College, Potomac River and Washington Channel.”The park service “recognizes the importance of trees to the park and its visitors. This carefully planned work is part of our required stewardship of the park,” the statement said.
尽管在翻新过程中个别洞可能会暂时关闭，但高尔夫球场将在整个翻新期间向公众开放，机构表示。
The golf course will remain open to the public throughout the renovation effort, although individual holes may temporarily close while work is underway, the agency said.
这座有106年历史的公共球场自2月以来一直卷入一起诉讼。包括DC保护联盟在内的原告称，特朗普政府的重建计划将违反1897年创建该公园的国会法案。该团队今年春天曾申请紧急停工令，因为担心球场的施工可能会立即开始。
The 106-year-old public course has been embroiled in a lawsuit since February. Plaintiffs including the DC Preservation League say the Trump administration’s reconstruction would violate the congressional act that created the park in 1897. The group sought an emergency stop-work order this spring because of concerns that work was expected to begin immediately on the course.
特朗普是一位热爱高尔夫的球手，他在社交媒体上发布了关于球场的内容：“完工后，这座球场将有能力举办大型高尔夫赛事，包括美国公开赛、莱德杯、PGA锦标赛以及其他PGA巡回赛顶级赛事。”他在六月下旬这样写道。
Trump, an avid golfer, has posted about the course on social media, “When 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,” he wrote in late June.
目前尚不清楚球场何时能够举办任何大型赛事，因为赛事场地通常会提前数年确定。
It’s unclear when the course could host any major tournaments, as locations are chosen several years ahead of the events.