Thank you for your support . 

There are about 20 regular members of the over 300 Friends of Paint Branch golf, Google group that meet weekly via Zoom(Thursday 8PM)  and discuss efforts and plans to make the community's voice be listened to.  We are planning further actions to bring this issue to a wider audience. 

The fight is hardly over and we ask that you help in any way that you can.

Join Us -   friendsofpaintbran...@googlegroups.com.

UPDATE:     Please read

Paint Branch Golf Complex - Development Plan Status / Impacts

Following a community outreach session in June, the Prince George’s Parks and Recreation Department issued a statement acknowledging the “walk- ability, affordability, and importance of the current 9-hole course.” It still believes, however, that it can have it ‘both ways.’ On September 14, the Department announced that it is continuing with a “proposal to partner with the University of Maryland [on] building a track and field at Paint Branch … [with] a long-term lease and a use agreement” for the Complex. What does that mean? Apparently, it means that Parks & Recreation wishes to somehow appease those residents seeking to preserve the Paint Branch Golf Complex while at the same time giving in to the University’s desire to place a track and field facility on the site.

The New Plan Under their new plan, the existing driving range at Paint Branch would be eliminated and a new track and field facility would be built on the site. A new driving range would be constructed on the course, causing two par-4 holes to be converted into four par-3 holes. What would this plan mean for patrons and neighbors of the Paint Branch Golf Complex?

Environmental Impacts: 

Paint Branch golf course has 4 lakes and two rivers running through the property which host a huge variety of wildlife including birds, animals, insects, fish, amphibians, and a wide variety of trees, flowers and plants. And is part of the Anacostia water shed. It is the home of many Terrapins, a protected species of amphibian in Maryland. There are hawks (red tailed, osprey and even seen a bald eagle circling overhead) Deer, squirrels, ground hogs, foxes, raccoons, Possums... The list is extensive.

It also serves as a flood control plain that protects many neighborhoods downstream and has direct impact on the the health of the Anacostia River and Chesapeake Bay.  Adding an enormous amount of hardscape (Track and Field Stadium) land to this area will dramatically increase run off and do the exact opposite of what the golf course and driving range land do.  PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT! 

There are several alternative sites that the University of Maryland already owns that would satisfy their needs.  In addition, there are a few nearby fields that could be repurposed to suit UMD’s desires.  UMD has ample real estate and sufficient resources to acquire land in the area that will not disrupt the existing Paint Branch facility. 

Matter of fact the University has land next to the existing track and field facility on campus that could be used to expand that very facility.  But  they want to take the publics land instead.  Why? Because that campus land is going to have Purple Line metro stop.  Well as one might imagine that land's value is going to vastly be worth a bundle to developers.  

Impact to Neighbors For residents in the vicinity of the Paint Branch facility, this plan would result in:

• Years of construction noise and heavy truck traffic, as the existing range is dismantled, truckloads of dirt are moved to grade the tract to accommodated the new athletic facility, ponds are relocated or filled-in, trees cut down, parking lots expanded or added, while a new driving range is constructed and the track and field facility is being built.

• Once construction is finally completed, noise and light pollution 7-days a week from usage of the track and field facility for practices (daily), meets/events (weekly) and additional traffic from public usage of the facility when not in use by the University (hourly).

• The very real possibility that the golf course and range will fail due to the changes made, resulting in further construction and development on the property (see Impact to Patrons below).

Impact to Patrons For residents and patrons of the Paint Branch facility, this plan would result in:

 • Eliminating all par-4 holes — relegating the course to a mere a par-3 ‘pitch and putt’ — greatly reducing the desirability of play for many golfers.

 • Removing or reducing practice facilities, thereby decreasing opportunity for underserved groups of the community for the  development of  the game especially among youth and junior golfers attempting to learn the sport, thus impeding the creation of a multi-generational recreational activity for county residents.

•  Degradation of the driving range, the best public driving range in the county — a four-season facility with covered and heated bays — further reducing the quality and desirability of the Paint Branch facility for the golfing public.

• The potential loss of the golf facility in a few years as usage decreases as a result of a failed plan that made the golf course less than desirable and eliminates the practice facility and driving range rendering the entire facility far less desirable for the community use.  Thus leading ultimately to further construction and development on the property for other purposes than golf.