All City offices will be closed on Monday, June 19 in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. Refuse and recycling will occur one day later than normal during this holiday week:
- Monday collections will occur Tuesday, June 20
- Tuesday collections will occur Wednesday, June 21
- Wednesday collections will occur Thursday, June 22
Special collections for brush and bulky items will only be scheduled for Friday, June 23, of this holiday week. You must call 240-487-3590 or email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov to schedule a pickup before setting your items out to the curb.
Officially recognized as a City holiday since 2020, and a federal holiday since 2021, Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Although the Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln was meant to end institutional slavery in 1863 for confederate states, after the end of the Civil War, some former confederate states still refused to grant freedom to their enslaved populations. On June 19, 1865, the last African Americans enslaved were finally freed when Union Major General Gordon Granger went to Galveston, Texas to enforce the emancipation with General Order No. 3. Celebrations erupted from the newly freed people, and commemorations have been held since 1866. Slavery was formally abolished in the United States with the adoption of the 13th amendment in December 1865.
To learn more about African American history in Prince George's County this Juneteenth, check out links below:
You can also plan a visit to these places to learn more about Juneteenth and African American history and culture: