At tomorrow’s meeting, the College Park City Council is expected to take a significant step in addressing one of the City’s most painful chapters and laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and equitable future. The Council will vote to adopt the Lakeland Neighborhood Plan—a comprehensive, community-led planning document that honors the rich legacy of Lakeland while charting a future centered on healing, justice, and sustainable growth.
This milestone plan is the result of an extraordinary multi-year collaboration between residents, community organizations, City staff, planning professionals, and student researchers. Its goals are ambitious yet grounded in real need: to preserve Lakeland’s cultural identity, redress the harms caused by urban renewal, promote affordable and accessible housing, improve transportation and infrastructure, and create opportunities for Lakelanders to shape the neighborhood’s future.
A History of Resilience and Displacement
Lakeland is one of College Park’s most historic neighborhoods. In the early 20th century, it emerged as a thriving African American community built through determination and deep civic engagement. Anchored by institutions like Embry A.M.E. Church and the Lakeland High School, the neighborhood was a source of stability, pride, and cultural richness for Black residents who were often excluded from other areas of the city and county.
But this community faced decades of racial discrimination and environmental neglect. Frequent flooding, aging infrastructure, and limited access to public investment left Lakeland vulnerable. In the 1960s and 1970s, the City launched the Lakeland Urban Renewal Project, which—under the guise of addressing flooding—resulted in the demolition of over two-thirds of Lakeland’s homes. Families were displaced, land was redeveloped, and many who were uprooted were never able to return.
The social and economic damage was lasting. Generational wealth was lost, community bonds were broken, and trust in local government was deeply shaken. To this day, Lakelanders continue to mourn the loss of a neighborhood that was once a vibrant hub of Black life and culture.
Laying the Foundation for Justice
In recent years, the City of College Park has taken deliberate steps to reckon with this history. In 2020, the Mayor and Council passed a resolution renouncing systemic racism and formally acknowledging the harm caused by the City’s role in urban renewal. That same year, the City established the Restorative Justice Commission, tasked with developing community-driven recommendations to address these past injustices.
One of those recommendations was to create a neighborhood plan specifically for Lakeland—one that would be built by and for the community. The Lakeland Neighborhood Plan now fulfills that promise.
Led by the Lakeland Civic Association and the Lakeland Community Heritage Project, and with support from the City’s Department of Planning and Community Development, the Restorative Justice Commission, and graduate students from the University of Maryland, this plan represents a shared vision rooted in equity, truth, and opportunity.
What’s in the Plan?
The Lakeland Neighborhood Plan is organized into multiple chapters, each focusing on different aspects of the neighborhood’s current conditions and future needs. It addresses land use, transportation, housing, cultural preservation, infrastructure, and public services. The plan was shaped through a robust community engagement process that included meetings, surveys, interviews, and historical analysis.
Key features include:
1. Restoring Neighborhood Character
The plan calls for preserving the single-family character of the eastern portion of Lakeland, where many of the remaining original homes are located. It discourages further high-density development in this area and recommends zoning changes that promote infill housing and homeownership opportunities, especially for descendants of displaced Lakelanders.
2. Promoting Homeownership and Affordability
Recognizing the lasting economic damage caused by displacement, the plan advocates for programs that support homeownership and generational wealth-building. It supports initiatives like the College Park Community Preservation Trust, which has already purchased former rental properties and transitioned them into affordable ownership opportunities. The plan also recommends encouraging accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to allow aging residents to stay in their homes while generating supplemental income.
3. Improving Connectivity and Infrastructure
Access to Lake Artemesia—a large public amenity created on land formerly part of Lakeland—is limited for current residents. The plan calls for better connectivity to this space and other parks and trails. It also addresses transportation gaps, calling for improved sidewalks, bike lanes, and safer intersections. Traffic and access remain limited in Lakeland, with vehicular access possible only from Baltimore Avenue, and the plan proposes exploring alternative routes and multimodal options.
4. Supporting Cultural and Historical Preservation
The plan strongly emphasizes the need to preserve Lakeland’s cultural heritage. This includes designating historic properties, expanding the neighborhood’s walking tour with digital oral histories, and supporting the maintenance of institutions like Embry A.M.E. Church and the Lakeland Community Center. These institutions played—and continue to play—key roles in the community’s identity.
5. Addressing Environmental Vulnerabilities
Flooding remains a concern in Lakeland. The plan includes recommendations to enhance stormwater infrastructure, protect green spaces, and consider ecological resilience in all new development proposals.
6. Fostering Intergenerational Equity
A growing number of Lakeland’s permanent residents are aging in place. The plan includes provisions to improve senior services, promote accessible housing, and invest in programs that connect youth and elders to share stories, mentorship, and civic engagement.
A Community-Led Vision
What sets this plan apart is not only its content, but also its process. The plan was developed with the Lakeland community—not simply for it. Lakelanders were active participants throughout every phase, from early discussions to final revisions. Many shared personal stories and historical documents. Others attended meetings, provided feedback on drafts, and participated in surveys and mapping exercises.
The plan also reflects the academic contributions of University of Maryland students who, through the Community Planning Studio and the Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), provided data analysis, scenario planning, and design ideas based on the needs expressed by residents.
An Acknowledgment of Shared Work
To formally recognize the effort and voices behind this plan, the City will include an Acknowledgement page in the final document. This page thanks residents of Lakeland—past and present—as well as community leaders, researchers, City staff, and Councilmembers who have supported the path to restorative justice.
Special recognition is given to Lakeland community chairs Maxine Gross, Robert Thurston, and Ruth Murphy, who have advocated tirelessly for equity and remembrance. The Restorative Justice Commission and the African American Redress Network are also acknowledged for their guidance and support.
Moving Forward
Adopting the Lakeland Neighborhood Plan will not instantly undo the pain of the past—but it marks a meaningful step in the right direction. It reflects a City government that is listening, learning, and taking accountability seriously. It offers a shared vision rooted in truth and forward-looking investment.
The work, of course, does not end with a vote. Implementation will require ongoing commitment—through zoning decisions, capital investments, housing programs, and relationship-building. The plan will serve as a living document, guiding decisions and reminding all who lead that equity must remain at the core of community development.
Most importantly, this plan ensures that Lakeland’s story will not be erased. It ensures that Lakelanders past and present will be seen, heard, and honored. It is both a roadmap and a promise—a commitment to never again leave a community behind.
To view the full Lakeland Neighborhood Plan, visit collegeparkmd.gov.