Programs and Initiatives
Our programs and initiatives encompass the full spectrum of our Vision 2030 objectives. Through strategic partnerships with local stakeholders, community members, businesses, the City, and the University of Maryland, we endeavor to create a positive and enduring impact on the quality of life in College Park. Our activities include transformative urban planning projects, neighborhood revitalization efforts, community engagement initiatives, and the activation of public art. Our aim is to cultivate a sense of belonging, enhance economic vitality, and establish a vibrant environment that serves residents, businesses, students, and visitors alike. We are committed to facilitating positive change and improving the future of College Park. We invite you to explore further and consider ways to engage with our efforts.
Live + Work College Park Program
The Live + Work College Park program offers $20,000 in forgivable loans for individuals employed full-time in the City of College Park. This funding can be used towards purchasing a home within city limits, helping to reduce commutes, strengthen neighborhoods, and support the local economy.
This initiative is made possible through grants from Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development, along with matching grants from the University of Maryland and the City of College Park. The City-University Partnership’s Live Work Program is part of an effort to increase the number of people living and working in the City, as outlined in the University Community Vision.
College Park Community Preservation Trust
As a certified Maryland Affordable Housing Land Trust, the Community Preservation Trust is committed to the preservation of neighborhoods and the facilitation of affordable homeownership opportunities in College Park. This initiative addresses the critical need for accessible housing in the region, supporting households that contribute significantly to the community’s vitality.
Campus Drive Bike Path
The Campus Drive Bike Path project aims to connect the Paint Branch Trail and the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail through Campus Drive in College Park. It will create a fully walkable and bikeable area with safe crossings on major roads. Safe crossings will be provided at the pedestrian underpass of Baltimore Avenue and Lakeland Road and at the pedestrian traffic signal located at Campus Drive and Baltimore Avenue.
The project will enhance access for multi-modal commuters, including the growing residential population of College Park, as well as those commuting to the University of Maryland, the Discovery District, and local hospitality businesses. It will provide a direct connection between the Paint Branch Trail and the Trolley Trail, promoting recreational use of the Anacostia Tributary Trail System for regional visitors.
Schedule:
Phase 1: Design and engineering for the Campus Drive Bike Path
Phase 2: Implementation and Construction
Project Management: Department of Planning & Construction Facilities Management
Project Status: In 2024, design and engineering began. Implementation and construction is anticipated to begin in 2025.
Funding: $1,293,000 (2020 & 2021), 2023 ($2,500,000). Total of $3,793,000 in 6 bond bills.
Trolley Trail Day
Archived Programs and Initiatives
Homeownership Program
Important Update: Effective Friday, February 16, 2024, the Partnership will no longer accept applications for the Homeownership Program. We have launched a new and improved homebuyer assistance program called Live+Work College Park. You can find more information about it here.
Supported by a Community Legacy grant from Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development and matching grants from the University of Maryland and the City of College Park, the City-University Partnership’s Homeownership Program aims to increase the number of University of Maryland and City of College Park employees living within the city, as outlined in the University Community Vision 2030. The program offers $15,000 in forgivable loans to full-time, benefits-eligible University and City employees to help them purchase homes in College Park. This initiative is designed to reduce commutes, strengthen neighborhoods, and support the local economy.
College Park Academy
College Park Academy, which was previously a project of the Partnership, serves approximately 500 students in grades six through ten. The institution implements a blended learning curriculum that integrates both in-person and online instruction. The academy’s facility encompasses 50,000 square feet and is situated roughly three miles from the former academy location, specifically at 5751 Rivertech Court within the Discovery District of the University of Maryland. This expansive 150-acre area is dedicated to business and research facilities. The building, developed by St. John’s Properties, was officially opened in 2018.
Vision 2020
Building upon this history of success, in 2011, at the request of University President Dr. Wallace Loh, City of College Park Mayor Andrew Fellows and City of College Park City Council, CPCUP has developed a vision for the University District to be achieved by the year 2020. This University District Vision was endorsed by UMD and the City of College Park, as well as county and state leaders.
