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Guide:

Sustainability

Sustainable Maryland Certification

October 24, 2022 - The City of College Park is pleased to announce that it received the Sustainable Maryland Certified Award during the Sustainable Maryland Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Municipal League’s (MML) Fall Conference on October 13, 2022. The City was certified at the Silver Level.  This is the fourth time that the City has received the award, after its first certification in 2013.

“The City is thrilled to receive this Sustainable Maryland award and to be recognized for all of our efforts in conservation, sustainability, and positive community impact,”  said Mayor Patrick L. Wojahn. “As a Sustainable Maryland Certified municipality, the City has introduced and expanded services that divert items from the landfill, began work to increase our tree canopy, and efforts to educate residents on water runoff to reduce pollutants in our waterways. Thank you to all who have helped us achieve this award.”

A total of 18 Maryland municipalities were honored at the awards ceremony. To achieve certification, municipalities are required to form a Green Team comprised of local residents, community leaders, municipal staff and officials; complete a variety of sustainability-related actions; and submit the appropriate documentation as evidence.   To achieve a Silver level, municipalities must score above 400 points; the City was certified at the Silver Level with 580 points.

 For a detailed summary of the City of College Park’s sustainability actions and certification report, please click here.

College Park Sustainable Maryland Award Photo Adams Wojahn McCaslin Young Esters Marsili Mitchell

Storm Drain Murals

Storm Drain Murals
In the Fall of 2021, the Committee for a Better Environment partnered with the College Park Arts Exchange to bring environmental awareness about pollution, specifically what goes down the drain ends up in our waterways. The storm drain murals depict plants and animals that are part of the Anacostia Watershed. Look for more artwork in the near future.


  1. Heron Storm Drain Final

    "Rise of the Herons" by artist HK Beall, is located in the 4900 block of Berwyn Road at the Trolley Trail. Completed October 2021.

  2. Block Grid Mural

    Block Grid Mural

  3. Maelstrom-web

    Maelstrom-web

  4. Beaver-dam-Mural-web

    Beaver-dam-Mural-web

  5. birds-in-flight-web

    birds-in-flight-web

  6. Tiny Bubbles Lakeland Storm Drain

    "Tiny Bubbles" by artist Sierra Sigmone, located in the 8000 block of Rhode Island Avenue, beside Lakeland Community Playground. Completed September 2022.

  7. Final RI Ave Pic

    "Otters at Play" by artist Chrissy Wilkin is located in the 7500 block of Rhode Island Avenue beside the Trolley Trail. Completed September 2021

  8. Updated Art Final

    "Ambiente Anacostia" by artist Alison Lovejoy Spain, is located in front of 5207 Lackawanna Street, prior to the entrance to the Greenbelt Metro. Completed May 2022

  9. Fish Mural

    Fish Mural

  10. Turtle Mural

    Turtle Mural

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TREES OF THE TROLLEY TRAIL

In the fall of 2021, the Committee for a Better Environment (CBE) rolled out a Tree Identification Program to show residents native trees along the Trolley Trail in College Park. Signs were installed and an online storyboard was created (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6dcf259994054ac1ae668136798d6bb7). The program will continue in 2023 with more trees being identified and the storyboard will be updated.

Green Award

Each year, the City of College Park Committee for a Better Environment (CBE) recognizes nominations for special effort made by members of the local community to protect and conserve the environment. 

In addition to commending those who have contributed in some way to a healthier environment, CBE hopes to:              

  • Increase environmental awareness. 
  • Encourage wider appreciation of nature and adoption of environmentally responsible practices.

For additional information, call the Sustainability Coordinator at  240-487-3590.

Past winners include:

  1. 2022
  2. 2021
  3. 2020
  4. 2019
  5. 2018
  6. 2016
  7. 2015
  8. 2012
  9. 2011
  10. 2010
  11. 2009
  1. 2022

Catherine OberfieldCatherine Oberfield (nominated by Todd Larson)

Catherine resides in Berwyn and is a farmer by trade.  She runs a food scrap pickup service, Berwyn Compost. In addition, while she was a student at the University of Maryland, she assisted with the community garden located at the intersection of Fordham Rd and Rhode Island Ave, adjacent to the trolley trail in the Calvert Hills neighborhood of College Park.

 

Renee Domogauer 2022Renee Domogauer (nominated by Caroline Wick)

Renee is a long-time resident of the Calvert Hills neighborhood in College Park. For many years she has organized neighbors to plant and maintain flowers & perennials in the planters along the trolley trail in Calvert Hills. This year, she also helped coordinate planting perennials in the planters along the Old Town section of the trolley trail.


Renee has also worked persistently to reduce litter on the streets of Calvert Hills and Old Town. During the pandemic, she organized neighbors to be responsible for picking up litter along individual streets in the Calvert Hills neighborhood and collaborated with UMD students to pick up litter in the Old Town neighborhood. She also successfully advocated for more trash and recycling receptacles along the trolley trail. 

Most recently, Renee organized a refurbishing of the Little Free Library near the College Park daycare.  


Meg OatesMeg Oates (nominated by Caroline Wick)

Meg was the driving force behind starting the Calvert Hills Green Team during the pandemic. Meg organized a trash pick-up in Calvert Park, a boat tour of the Anacostia River, and many other activities. Meg recently stepped down as co-chair, but her work laid the foundation for the Green Team's current work. Recently, the Green Team removed English Ivy from trees in Calvert Park and did a trash clean-up around Calvert Hills and Old Town.

 

 

 

  1. 2021

Urs and Anihi Weber Green Award Winner 06.10.21Urs Weber and Anahí Espíndola (nominated by Caroline Wick)

Urs and Anahí are residents of the Calvert Hills neighborhood in College Park. They are receiving a Green Award because they maintain a large vegetable, herb, and wild plant garden, and happily share their understanding and enthusiasm with neighbors and passersby. After moving into the house, Urs and Anahí changed their front lawn into a garden that produces vegetables year-round. Their home is adjacent to the trolley trail and they receive many inquiries about their gardening experiences. They have inspired many to begin growing plants and food, and planting natives. Recently, Urs convened a virtual meeting for College Park residents to discuss gardening and share the neighborhood’s experiences. 

Rick Borshelt GreenAward 06.10.21Rick Borchelt (nominated by Caroline Wick)

Rick is a resident of the Calvert Hills neighborhood in College Park. He is receiving a Green Award based on his efforts to keep his neighbors informed about and connected to the natural world. Most recently, Rick contributed to the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Following the GBBC, Rick sent an email to the neighborhood listserv summarizing the results and providing insight about which types of birds were seen. Rick maintains a pollinator-friendly garden and he provides information about his garden to interested neighbors. In the Spring of 2020, Rick shared mint cuttings with interested neighbors. Rick also sends regular email updates to the neighborhood listserv educating neighbors about local wildlife and plants. Calvert Hills residents appreciate all that he does.

Friends of Guilford RunFriends of Guilford Run (nominated by Alexa Bely)

The student-led group Friends of Guilford Run is being awarded a Green Award for their environmental stewardship of Guilford Run, a stream running near the southern edge of the City. Guilford Run is a part of the Anacostia River watershed and ultimately flows into the Chesapeake Bay. Friends of Guilford Run is led by University of Maryland undergraduate students affiliated with Hope Lutheran Church. 

Started a few years ago by Dan LeKites and Laura Tiffany, the group is currently led by Sandra Roper and Jordan Kreh. Friends of Guilford Run have led regular cleanups of the Run, which receives a considerable input of trash from surrounding roads and development, and have also done native plantings along the banks of the stream. Through their leadership and outreach, the group has helped engage numerous people of diverse affiliations in these activities. The efforts of this group improve the beauty and environmental health of the stream, and positively impact local and downstream communities and wildlife.

Janis Oppelt 2021 wGreenAwardJanis Oppelt (nominated by Alan Hew)

Janis Oppelt is the ideal Green Resident we all strive to be.  She diligently recycles, composts, utilizes a rain barrel, and plants native plants and plantings that promote pollinators and wildlife.  Janis has participated in many community events such as cleanups, community gardening, storm drain marking, and College Park Day.  Janis served the City for many years as Chair of the Committee for a Better Environment where she led many workshops and showings of environmental films for our community.  Janis also currently serves on the local Sierra Club chapter promoting environmental issues.  


  1. 2020

Kathy Bryant - nominated for her efforts in raising environmental awareness and working to protect a wetland, located just south of the Old Town Playground and northwest of the College Park metro station, is known as the Sentinel Swamp Sanctuary and sometimes referred to as the “primordial swamp” or “frog pond."

Scott Wilson – for picking up litter throughout northern College Park.

Scott Wilson green team winner



Scott Wilson posing with award during Pandemic social distancing.

  1. 2019
  • Russell Robinette – for picking up litter throughout Berwyn on a daily basis 
  • Mr. Van & Mrs. Sangi Tluanga – for greening their home and yard and collecting litter in their neighborhood
  • Proteus Bikes – for its work in educating the community about biking and leading group bike rides to get more people riding bikes.
  • Stuart Adams – for his efforts in mobilizing opposition to a proposed development on Route 1 that would have removed a last green space.

Proteus Bikes P7290275


CBE Chair Todd Larsen presents Green Award to Laurie Lemieux of Proteus Bicycle 2019.



Russell Robinett Green Award


CBE Chairs Todd Larsen and Janis Oppelt present Green Award to Russell Robinette 2019.

  1. 2018

The award for the Environmental Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) went to La Prima Catering, a certified "green" caterer located on Berwyn Road. La Prima offers compostable plates and utensils and uses 100% renewable energy to power its kitchens.

The award for Environmentally Friendly Landscaping went to Frank and Faye Hawkins who have made their North College Park yard not only beautiful but a natural sanctuary for birds, bees and other wildlife.

The award for Environmental Achievement went to Stasia and Myron Hutchison for reducing their energy consumption, installing rain barrels and solar panels, and avoiding pesticides to combat ticks.

The award for Conservation of Natural Resources went to Girl Scout Troop #1734 and its leader Donna Weene for their monthly trash cleanups along Rhode Island Ave in North College Park. Congratulations and thank you all for being so green!

  1. 2016

College Park Litter Logo_REVISEDv2No Green Awards this year, because the group decided to have a contest for a logo design.

Congratulations to the Kathy Everett and Gina Tomko, the winners of the City of College Park's Committee for a Better Environment Litter Logo Contest! 

The Committee for a Better Environment set out to find a logo design that raised awareness of litter, proper waste disposal, and recycling in our city. 

A design contest was then held during the month of April. Designers of all ages and abilities were asked to incorporate graphic elements, characters, colors, and/or a text slogan to evoke a liter-awareness message. 

The winning submission and final design by Gina Tomko and Kathy Everett from the Non-student/Resident Category – they won $250. 

Girl Scout Troup 1734 College Park Methodist Church won second place $100 and were in the Elementary/High School student Category

Michelle Delabrer won third place $50 from the University Student Category. 


  1. 2015

No Green Award given, but the following were nominated: 

La Prima La Prima Catering, 5105 Berwyn Rd, College Park, MD 20740 (nominated by Phil Aronson) dedicated to improving our environmental impact. Currently, we offer green services for all catered events, including compostable plates and utensils and farm-to-table menus with organic, locally grown food. Environmental goals include: 

Mr. Van & Mrs Sangi Tluanga, 9300 Davidson Street, College Park, MD  20740 (nominated by Zari Malsawma)
Rain barrel, vegetable garden in the backyard, compost pile.  Sangi also collects recyclable trash for recycling as she walks the Buck Lodge trail & park.

Mr. Paul & Mrs. Rose Haldemann, 9118 St. Andrews Place, College Park, MD  20740 (nominated by Zari Malsawma)
Just went solar a couple of months ago - solar panels installed on two sides of rooftop.  Rose is dedicated to keeping her block clean by picking up trash on the road in front of her house, and keeping the picnic area in the CPW Neighborhood Park across from her house clean.

Stasia and Myron Hutchison of Cherry Hill (nominated by Mary Cook)
Examples of how they protect the environment include: installation of solar panels; use of solar panels to charge battery to run TV displaying their daughter, Caitlyn's environmental video; use of lemon and eucalyptus spray to combat ticks; turning down the thermostat in the winter and up in the summer; use of rain barrels

  1. 2012

Clay Gump: Conservation of Natural Resources

Dr. Victor Yakovenko: Environmental 3-Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Christiane Williams: Environmentally Friendly Landscaping and Beautification

Robert Boone: Other Environmental Achievements

  1. 2011

Environmentally Friendly Landscaping and Beautification:  Rick Borchelt, botanist and horticulturist, for his garden, which is registered as a National Wildlife Habitat and as a Certified Butterfly Garden; for his use of native and heirloom plants in landscaping; and for his minimal use of herbicides and pesticides. 

Conservation of Natural Resources:   Vicky Hageman for her work as a Citizens to Conserve and Restore Indian Creek (CCRIC) activist to protect Indian Creek, including coordinating clean-ups, reporting dumping violations, and instigating a storm drain awareness program.

Award for Other Environmental Achievements:  Eric Maring for his work as an environmental educator of children through music.

"Environmental 3-R's: Reduce - Reuse - Recycle":   Spellman House for its installation of 50 solar panels, a cool roof, and an energy-efficient furnace; for use of recycled materials in its fencing and outdoor furniture; and for other environmental efforts, including use of nontoxic paints, installation of a pervious crushed stone walkway, and extensive landscaping.

Jason’s Deli received an honorable mention.

  1. 2010

Russell Robinette – Litter cleanup

Joanne Calabrese – Conservation of Natural Resources

  1. 2009

Recognition but no award to Department of Public Works (3 Rs):

Boy Scout Troop 740: Environmentally Friendly Landscaping and Beautification 

David Ruppert: Conservation of Natural Resources and native tree propagation

Davey Rogner, UM student: Other. Founded the University Group on clean energy. Promoted environmental sustainability through music.

Articles from the Tree and Landscape Board


  1. Winter Tree Care

Which season is the best time to prune deciduous trees?  If you guessed winter, you would be right!  This is because damaged limbs and the presence of pests are more clearly visible during the winter after leaves have fallen off the tree.  

During the dormant or winter season, a tree without leaves allows an arborist to inspect the tree canopy for limb damage, and make recommendations for pruning or removal.  The arborist will also inspect the structure of the tree and branches. Pruning may be recommended to increase airflow through the tree canopy to help prevent storm damage when leaves return on the tree.  Trees that sustain damage from storms are more likely to be subjected to insect damage and disease pressure.

But before you do any pruning or tree work, the first step is to contact a certified arborist who is licensed in the State of Maryland, to perform the tree work.    

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency that licenses companies that perform various types of tree maintenance.  You can find a list of tree companies licensed to perform tree maintenance in the State of Maryland using this link: https://dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/forests/tree_expert_search.asp.  The listing identifies companies that have ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certified arborists on their staff.  

Winter is also a good time to inspect trees for signs of disease presence or insect damage.  

If the arborist identifies a pest presence, control measures  may be recommended  prior to leaf growth in the spring, or dormant pruning for certain species of trees, which are susceptible to insect vectored diseases. Insects that carry harmful tree diseases (i.e. Dutch Elm or Oak Wilt), are less active during cold winter weather, thereby enabling recommended pruning.  Dormant pruning will permit callous tissue to begin sealing the pruning cut before spring growth begins and insect pests become active.  Some tree species that are pruned during the warmer months of the year may become susceptible to invasion of diseases or insect damage due to increased pest activity.  This is because the sap on the freshly cut limbs and branches will attract insects such as beetles and emerald ash borers that are harmful to Oaks and Ash trees.  Trees in the rosacea family such as pears, apples, shadbush, and hawthorns should also be pruned during the dormant season to help reduce the spread of bacterial fire blight disease.  

If the arborist recommends a control treatment, only hire firms licensed in the State of Maryland to perform the pesticide applications.  A list of companies who are licensed in the State of Maryland to perform pesticide applications can be found at https://egov.maryland.gov/mda/pesticides/.  Several tree care companies are licensed to both perform tree inspections and apply pesticides to treat identified conditions.

  1. Plight of the Bradford Pear

Longtime residents of College Park will remember streets lined with blooming Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) trees, the one-time official tree of Prince Georges County. Currently, there are far fewer Bradford pear street trees in College Park and the official tree of Prince Georges County has changed to the native willow oak. Which brings us to the questions, why are Bradford pears no longer a preferred street tree and why was there a change in designation of the official County tree?

A bit of background first. Fruiting pear trees were introduced to North America by the early European colonists in the 1600’s. During the 1950’s, fire blight, a bacterial disease, began impacting fruiting pear trees on the West Coast of the United States. Scientists at the US Department of Agriculture in Oregon and at Glenn Dale, Maryland worked to develop a fire blight resistant fruiting pear tree by grafting Asian varieties of pear tree root stock onto fruiting varieties.  

Researchers in Glenn Dale observed the durability of the Bradford pear and thought it would make a suitable street tree. They tested the tree along the bare streets of University Park, Maryland. The tree performed well and the push was on to introduce the Bradford pear to the nursery trade in the 1960’s. This tree species was also popular because it started blooming with an abundance of white flowers towards the end of March, which signaled that spring had arrived in Maryland. The shiny dark green leaves were attractive during the summer and changed to a pleasing burgundy fall color late in the season. These were some of the reasons why Prince Georges County adopted the Bradford pear as its official tree.

The original Bradford pear trees were self-sterile (unable to receive pollen from the same cultivar), but the new cultivar trees were able to send out root shoots whose flowers were cross pollinated by other varieties of pear trees, producing viable seeds. The fruit from these Bradford pears was then eaten by birds, and the seeds were dispersed by the birds resulting in Bradford pear trees growing along roadsides, in hedgerows, in woodlands and in fields throughout the United States. The Bradford pear is now considered an invasive species by the United States Department of Agriculture and the State of Maryland. The states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and South Carolina have passed laws banning the sales of this tree species.  

The Bradford pear has become an unpopular tree to plant due to several other reasons.  The flowers, though beautiful, have an unpleasant odor. Bradford trees grow quickly and have a large crown with poor branch attachment. The roots of the Bradford pear are shallow making the tree susceptible to failure during high winds. The structural deficiencies of the tree species become apparent after about twenty years of age when the trees begin losing branches and self-destructing during storms due to their tight branching habit. These undesirable attributes have contributed to the recommended and systematical removal of Bradford pear trees from roadsides and city parks in many jurisdictions throughout the Eastern United States.  Homeowners should consider replacing Bradford pear trees on their property before they reach an age when they begin to deteriorate.

Introduced Bradford pear trees can be replaced with tree species native to College Park that perform well as urban street trees. These native trees will help support pollinator species of birds, insects and mammals that are native to Maryland. Some of these trees are Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus), Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis). These are all flowering trees that bloom in the spring, however some flower earlier than others. A couple of larger trees that can be planted as replacement trees include the Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) and Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). The Tuliptree is frequently visited by hummingbirds when its yellow flowers are in bloom.

Have questions about which Bradford pear trees in the City of College Park will be removed in the future and what replacement trees will be planted? Email the City Horticulturist at horticulturist@collegeparkmd.gov.  Before planting any tree, please contact Miss Utility at 811 or via https://www.missutility.net/homeowner to request the underground utilities be marked to avoid future conflicts.

  1. Urban Tree Benefits

Maintaining and planting trees provide numerous environmental and health benefits for the various organisms living and visiting in our area.  Important benefits that urban trees provide include:

Cleaning Air and Mitigating Climate Change: Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air and produce oxygen. Trees also intercept airborne pollutants common in urban cities. Both actions help mitigate climate change and contribute to cleaner air.

Intercepting Rainfall and Absorbing Stormwater: Trees absorb rainfall and decrease stormwater runoff, reducing erosion and pollution in our waterways. A healthy tree canopy means cleaner rivers and less investment in costly infrastructure. By intercepting rainfall and absorbing stormwater, trees help reduce water damage.

Reducing Energy: Trees provide shade, saving residents and businesses on energy cooling costs. This in turn, reduces energy useage.

Creating a Healthier and Safer Community: Green spaces help residents combat stress, anxiety, and depression. It’s shown that tree-lined streets have a traffic calming effect, which help keep drivers and pedestrians safe.  Exposure to trees and nature aids concentration by reducing mental fatigue, thus creating a healthier and safer community.

Increased Business Activity: Trees attract businesses and tourists. People may linger and shop longer at businesses that are surrounded by trees which in turn, increases business and encourages social activity.

Support Wildlife: Trees provide food, homes, and shelter for many native and migratory animals. They support and protect wildlife, which benefits all of us.

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