ABOUT THE CITY:The eighth largest city in Maryland, College Park’s population is 31,274 (2013). Comprising approximately six square miles, theCity is located just seven miles northeast of Washington, D. C., within the Capital Beltway, along U. S. Route 1.The City is a community of neighborhoods in an urban setting. There are ten distinct neighborhoods with a variety of housing choices. The median housing value (2013) is about $273,000.The City is the site of The University of Maryland, a Big Ten school and the City’s major employer and property owner. The campus covers a large portion of the City. The combination of approximately 37,000 regular students and a large number of faculty and staff brings significant commerce to the businesses of the City. In addition, there are a large number of students ofUniversity College, an independent university specializing in adult education. College Park also supports electronics and research facilities, as well as light industry and entrepreneurial businesses. The City contains numerous retail and service businesses, many situated on the City’s “Main Street”, U. S. Route 1. Primary and secondary education is provided by the Prince George’s County Public Schools. Prince George’s County also provides police, fire, and emergency medical services to City residents and by state law, is the provider of county-wide planning and zoning services. Volunteer fire departments play a significant role in providing fire and emergency medical services to the City.Water and sewer services are provided by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, a bi-county agency. Many parks and recreation facilities are the responsibility of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC).ABOUT OUR
RACIAL EQUITY INITIATIVE: Membership and GARE and participation in Metropolitan Washington’s Council of Government’s Racial Equity Learning Cohort will be our first endeavor into a long term planning process for racial equity in the City of College Park.