Community Development

Hollywood Gateway Park

4703 Edgewood Road is an approximately 6,800 square-foot lot at the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and Edgewood Road that is zoned Commercial Shopping Center (C-S-C). The City of College Park purchased the property using Program Open Space funds and plans to redevelop the site as an eco park and gateway to the Hollywood neighborhood. The City worked with students in the University of Maryland’s Landscape Architecture program to develop design alternatives for the site through a competition and nine student teams prepared drawings for the site. click here to view drawings

Home Ownership Grant Program

Provides $5,000 grants to households/individuals to purchase properties within the corporate limits of College Park. Applicants must agree to live in the property as their primary residence for a minimum of 5 years. The program’s intent is two-fold:

1. To encourage home ownership through the conversion of previously rented single-family homes, short sales, foreclosed homes and condominiums to owner-occupied status; and
2. To assist certified police officers, city employees, career and volunteer fire fighters and emergency technicians to become homeowners. Click here for instructions and application.

Pattern Book for College Park Neighborhoods

The City is working with Urban Design Associates to develop a Pattern Book for College Park neighborhoods that identifies common architectural styles and design characteristics and provides information on renovations, additions, landscaping and energy efficiency.

College Park Trolley Trail

The project’s intent is to provide a bicycle/pedestrian trail running the entire length of the City in the old trolley right-of-way. Three segments of the trail are complete. The northern segment from Paducah Road to Greenbelt Road is on-road and intended primarily for bicyclists. The segments from Greenbelt Road to Paint Branch Parkway and from Calvert Road to Albion Road are off-road and accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians. The segment between Paint Branch Parkway and Calvert Road has been designed and will be an off-road trail.

Skateboard Park

Funding has been received from Prince George’s County in the amount of $250,000 to develop a skateboard facility at the M-NCPPC Sunnyside Neighborhood Park. Planning staff worked with residents, skaters, and the County’s Department of Park and Recreation on a design. The City is in the process of obtaining the necessary permits and anticipates that construction will begin in early November 2011.

Renovation of Duvall Field

Planning staff worked closely with city residents, the Recreation Board, Boys and Girls Club, and the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation to develop a concept plan for the renovation of Duvall Field. The City hired a consultant to take the concept plan to next phase with the preparation of final design and engineering plans. The phased improvements to the City-owned park facility will address deferred maintenance, field rejuvenation, seating, lighting, parking and other amenities. Funding has been secured from Program Open Space and a Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Community Parks and Playgrounds Program grant.

Walking Tour Brochures

A brochure has been prepared highlighting the architecture of the City’s Calvert Hills and Old Town neighborhoods, in an effort to encourage tourism. The brochure identifies noteworthy properties that exemplify distinct architectural styles and periods, along with properties that have been individually listed on the National Register and the County’s Historic Sites and Districts Plan. Planning staff are currently working on brochures for the Lakeland and Berwyn neighborhoods.