WEEKLY BULLETIN | November 18, 2022

Business and Hospitality Grants

The City of College Park is pleased to announce that it has given more than $1.9 million in grants to 51 College Park businesses to help them in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Since launching its ARPA Assistance Grants Program in 2021, the City has received more than 60 applications and continues to accept applications from City businesses.

“The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the business community was massive; thanks to the federal government’s ARPA program, the City has been able to help our local restaurants and businesses survive and begin to thrive once again during this recovery period,” said Mayor Patrick L. Wojahn

One Warm Coat Drive

November 16 - December 6

The City of College Park, with One Warm Coat, a national non-profit organization, will once again hold our annual One Warm Coat Drive from November 16 through December 6.

Please donate either new or like-new coats and cold-weather items. Children's coats, hats, and gloves for ages 4-11 are particularly in need.

Help fellow College Park residents in need by donating your clean, new, or like-new coats, hats, and gloves during the City's annual warm coat drive. All donated coats will be distributed to designated local elementary schools for children and families in need.

Election Survey

The City of College Park is conducting a short survey about voter engagement in City elections. Whether you vote in every City election, and especially if you have never voted in a City election, your opinion is important to us. 

Complete the survey here before December 19. 

The next City election is in November 2023. For more information, call the City Clerk at 240-487-3501. 

Curbside Food Scrap Collection

A lot of food scraps get placed in the trash during the holidays.

This new voluntary program will divert organic materials, that are not waste, out of our landfill and will reduce harmful greenhouse gases emitted from organic decomposition in landfills, which contributes to climate change. 

Residents can sign up on a rolling basis – join and purchase containers at www.collegeparkmd.gov/curbsidecollectionapp. Once you pick up your containers, your collection will start the following week.

Tips for a successful collection:

•  A contractor is providing the collection service, so it’s best to place your container out before 6:00 a.m. or the night before your scheduled pick-up to avoid a missed collection.
• Your container should be directly in front of your house, and if possible, at the end of your driveway so that it is clearly visible from the street (no alley collections)
• Keep your container away from trash and recycling carts, or other obstacles.
• If you run out of compostable bags, you can use a paper bag.
• Our contractor, Compost Crew, will send a reminder email the day before your collection. They will also send a notice if your container is not found.
• If you will be away and want to skip a week, please email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov and let us know the week(s) you would like your service suspended.

ARPA Mental Health Assistance



The City has established programs to assist businesses, nonprofits, and residents address the negative financial impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Program Act (ARPA) has provided funds that the City is using for these and many other projects.

College Park residents of all ages may be reimbursed for up to $5,000 per household for mental health services received OR invoices may be paid directly to service providers.

Learn more here.

Community Survey 2022

The City is partnering with the ETC Institute to conduct a comprehensive community survey. This upcoming City of College Park Community Survey will measure residents’ attitudes and opinions on City services like refuse and recycling collection, City facilities and parks, City events, and economic development.

This will be the third scientifically representative survey conducted in the City of College Park. A randomly selected sample of College Park residents will receive a mailing from the City and ETC Institute notifying them of their selection in the survey process. Be sure to check your mailbox for more information about the survey. Responses are anonymous. The mailed paper survey will be in English, but a Spanish version of the survey will be available.

Participation in the survey is very important. The results will help City officials better serve the College Park community, so please complete the survey if your household is selected. Help us shape the future of College Park! For any questions about the 2022 City of College Park Community Survey, please call 240-487-3501 or email cpcommunications@collegeparkmd.gov.

Stay tuned to the City’s website, facebook and twitter pages for up-to-date news and information.

SHA Project Activity Notice

From Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA): Water line work near Berwyn House Road begins November 7, 2022, weather permitting. Additional work times may be needed to expedite work. All other work remains 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Work is on Baltimore Avenue (Route 1) from Lakeland Road to Quebect Street.

Additional information available at https://mdot-sha-us1-college-ave-to-md193-pg6242116-maryland.hub.arcgis.com/.

Winter Readiness

FROM PEPCO: With winter quickly approaching and temperatures starting to drop, Pepco is ready to keep homes warm and bright and businesses operational all winter long.

Pepco recognizes many customers are managing the very real negative impacts of inflation and rising prices for the products and services they are using each day. The company is committed to keeping every customer connected with extended payment arrangements and working to help them secure important energy assistance.

Call 202-833-7500 or visit www.pepco.com/help for more information.

Shop Small Saturday

Small Business Saturday is a great way to support the local businesses that greatly impact our communities. For this November 26 and beyond, help support local College Park businesses by shopping small.

For a directory of businesses, including restaurants and retail stores in College Park, please visit www.collegepark.life

Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 2023

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a time set aside each year, where we as a country, work together, serving others, to make our communities more equitable. We annually observe this day each year on the third Monday in January. As the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service, MLK Day encourages all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

The theme for the City of College Park’s 2023 Tribute to Dr. King is the Urgency of Now: One Community, One Love.



The City of College Park is providing multiple ways our residents can honor Dr. King's legacy on January 16th and throughout the entire month, including The Art, Visual Art, and Essay Competition. This contest is open to students in grades kindergarten through 12th who live in the City of College Park. Students must submit their entry by Friday, December 2, 2022. Winners will receive a monetary award and be recognized in the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.

For more information about activities celebrating Dr. King, visit our website.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Turkey Trot

Thursday, November 24, 2022 | 9AM

Join the City of College Park, College Park parkrun, and Prince George's County Parks and Recreation for a FREE 5K walk or run on the Paint Branch Trail. Kids, dogs, and strollers are welcome.

Register here for a free personal parkrun barcode, then just show up!

Winter Wonderland

December 10 | 4-8pm | City Hall Plaza

Celebrate the holiday season with us at City Hall!

Join us at this festive holiday market and tree lighting to

inspire your holiday spirit. Check off your holiday wish list with products from vendors of Shop Made in Maryland!

There will be hot cocoa, coffee and cookies, food, fun activities for kids, live music and carolers, a photo opportunity for the family, a look at gingerbread houses, and a visit

from the man himself-Santa Claus!

Add to your College Park Holiday by stopping by and spreading a little cheer with your neighbors. Check out event details here.

Gingerbread House Competition

Do you enjoy making cookies and are also a secret architect? Have you always wanted to build that dream home out of confections?



Join this year's City of College Park Gingerbread House Competition! Enter as a single individual or a group. Follow the rules and get to baking! When your creation is complete, fill out this form entirely before December 5.

We will announce winners on December 10th at the City's Winter Wonderland event. We want your creative, wacky, whimsical, and best designs. All City of College Park residents are encouraged to participate in the competition; anyone can attend the event.

Top entries will be displayed at City Hall over the holiday season!

Please note that by participating in City events, you acknowledge and assume all risks and liabilities including possible exposure to illnesses, including but not limited to COVID-19. Masks and social distancing are strongly encouraged.

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

SmartLeaf Compost and Wood Mulch

Compost is $28.00 per cubic yard, and wood mulch is $12.00 per cubic yard. Material may be picked up Mon.-Fri. between 8:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Deliveries are finished for the season, but material is available year-round (while supplies last) at the Department of Public Works, 9217 51st Avenue, College Park, MD 20740.

For more information on compost click here, or wood mulch click here. For further questions, please call 240-487-3593.

For more information about purchasing Compost or Wood Mulch please visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/gardens.

City Tree Programs

Trees provide many benefits such as reduction of cooling and heating costs, interception of rainwater, increasing property values and improving air quality. The City offers a few ways to help. More information is available at www.collegeparkmd.gov/trees. Fall street tree planning is happening now, send in your requests! 

REQUESTS FOR STREET TREES: The City has a program that pays for and provides street tree planting in the right-of-way area, which includes the grass strip between the curb and sidewalk. College Park residents interested in requesting a tree can contact Brenda Alexander at 240-487-3590 or horticulturist@collegeparkmd.gov. The location will be inspected to determine if it is suitable.

TREE CANOPY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (TCEP): City of College Park property owners can apply for reimbursement of up to $150.00 annually, for approved tree(s) planted on their residential lot. The completed application should be sent to horticulturist@collegeparkmd.gov for review and approval. Click here for a link to the guidelines and application.

TREE MAINTENANCE The City is responsible for tree maintenance in the rights-of-way, City maintained buildings and parks, and on public property. Trees on private property are the responsibility of the property owner.

Urban Tree Protection: Ordinance 21-O-09

This Ordinance requires an application to be submitted for approval to obtain a permit to remove or prune a tree on residential land.

Beginning July 1, 2022, trees on residential property within the City of College Park, greater than 36 inches in circumference measured at 4.5 feet above ground level, on which the property owner wants to remove or prune live branches or wood more than 20% will need to submit an application to the Department of Public Works for a tree removal/pruning permit and receive approval prior to beginning planned tree work. A requirement of the tree removal/pruning permit is that urban tree(s) approved for removal are replaced.

You can find the permit application at www.collegeparkmd.gov/TreeRemovalApp

For more information, click here.

Curbside Leaf Collection

Due to the immense amount of leaves, curbside leaf collection is off schedule.

Click here for November’s calendar.

During Curbside Leaf Collection, signs are posted in your neighborhood in advance of the scheduled collection dates. The collection calendar will be updated as the schedule changes. Look for signs posted in your neighborhood. Click here for the City’s leaf plan and calendar.

TIPS – THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF LEAF COLLECTION!

• Bagging is not necessary during leaf collection with vacuums. Grass can be included in your leaf piles, but no sticks, branches, vines, or woody materials (as these items require a special collection).

• Rake leaves to the curb but do not put them in the street. Pile leaves away from cars and storm drains as the leaf vacuum cannot reach around cars.

• Remove tree limbs, rocks, trash, and other debris from leaves to be collected. These items damage the equipment and cause delays.

• Noise and dust may be noticeable as dry conditions generate more dust. We apologize for any inconvenience.

• When signs are posted, rake leaves to the curb. To ensure collection, put leaves out by the first day listed. Calendar may show two days in an area, but we only collect once per street per collection cycle.

Department of Public Services

Weekly Highlights of Contract Police Activity

November 4 - November 10

11/5 Contract officer conducted a traffic stop for loud exhaust at Baltimore Avenue and Lackawanna Street. The driver was issued 2 citations and 2 warnings. 

11/5 Contract officer conducted a traffic stop for loud exhaust at University Blvd and Greenbelt Road. The driver was issued 2 citations and 1 warning. 

11/5 Contract officer attempted to stop a vehicle at Baltimore Avenue and Cherry Hill Road. The vehicle was reported stolen as the fled northbound on Baltimore Ave from the officer. No pursuit was initiated.

11/6 Contract officer conducted a traffic stop for loud exhaust at University Blvd. at Metzerott Road. The driver was issued 2 citations and 2 equipment repair orders. 

11/6 Contract officers responded to a call for service for a possible overdose in the 4600 block of  Norwich Avenue. The victim said they used cocaine earlier and believed they may have overdosed on it. Transported to hospital by EMS personnel.

11/7 Contract officers responded to a call for service regarding a homeless male in the parking garage

sleeping. Officers located the male and sent him on his way. Report submitted.

11/8 Contract officers assisted Division I officers with the arrest of 2 individuals for possession of a stolen moped in the 9500 block of Baltimore Avenue. The moped was stolen earlier from the 8200 block of  Baltimore Avenue and the victim had an Air Tag on her vehicle. The officer observed the suspects on the moped as they fled from him on the path. The suspects made a U-turn and drove in the direction of the officer. Both suspects were stopped and placed under arrest. Both suspects are juveniles and from Silver Spring Maryland. They were not questioned per the new state law and released to their parents.

11/10 Contract officer conducted a traffic stop for loud exhaust at Cherokee Street and 46^th Place. The driver was issued 1 citation, 1 equipment repair order and 2 warnings. 

Nov 7, 2022 to Nov 13, 2022

 There were no municipal infractions issued for the Noise Ordinance, or none for Article I, 141-1 Danger to Public Safety/Health or Article II, 141-13 Unruly Social Gatherings

Statistical Data and issued

(916-9/22):

MD State Citations: 39

Warnings: 56

Equipment Repair Orders: 5

Distracted Driving Citations: 0

Parking Citations: 0

Field Observation Report: 2

Youth Field Observation Report: 0

Citations in Lieu of Arrest: 0

Civil Citation: 0

Criminal Arrests: 0

DWS Arrest: 0

DWI Arrest: 0

Warrant Arrest: 0

Premise Checks: 17

Referral Student Code of Conduct: 0

Zone 1/Downtown Area Pedestrian Warnings: 0

Zone 1/Downtown Area Pedestrian Citations: 0

Zone 2/Berwyn-Lakeland Pedestrian Warnings: 0

Zone 2/ Berwyn-Lakeland Pedestrian Citations: 0

Zone 3/North College Park Pedestrian Warnings: 0

Zone 3/North College Park Pedestrian Citations: 0

Loud Exhaust Enforcement Stats:

Citations: 7

Warnings: 4

SERO's: 3

Year to date Statistics (starting 4/19/21):

Citations: 552

Warnings: 149

SERO's: 132

Monthly Public Safety Maps



For monthly Prince George's County Police public safety maps and statistical data for the City of College Park, visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/publicsafety.

Community Meetings

Note: These are not City meetings but have City staff or Contract Police as a host.