Tips of the Month

Making College Park a More Age-Friendly Community

In June 2021, the City joined a handful of communities across Maryland who are committed to creating great places to live for people of all ages when it was accepted into the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities Program.

Through participation in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, the City of College Park will:

  • Support age-friendly policies, practices and programming in outdoor spaces and recreation, housing, transportation, social participation and inclusion, civic participation, and community support.
  • Convene a work group of stakeholders to oversee these efforts and commit to continuous improvement.
  • Engage the community, particularly older persons, in a community livability assessment process and inventory.
  • Adopt an Age-Friendly Action Plan that includes goals and strategies for addressing the livability initiative areas of 1) Housing, 2) Transportation, 3) Social Participation, 4) Communication and Information, and 5) Health Services and Community Support.
  • Implement, evaluate, and track the progress of the Action Plan.

Since June, the City’s Seniors Committee and various departments have been working with a consultant gathering information from residents through stakeholder meetings and other means. More announcements and information about the program and next steps will be coming soon. Stay tuned to the City’s website for any updates!

From the City's Seniors Committee

Holiday Hazards for Pets

As the holiday season begins, owners, especially the owners who adopted pets during the pandemic, should be aware of toxic foods and plants that if ingested will affect your pet's health.

Garlic, onions, artificial sweeteners can all cause extreme damage to a pet's internal organs. Chocolate is another toxic food item so it is important that candy is kept out of harm's way. Some nuts and fruits are also problematic. Lists of toxic foods can be found on the internet. When in doubt, it is always better to not feed your pet human food and to keep foods well covered when not refrigerated.

Other hazards that you should be aware of are toxic plants to include poinsettias, holly and mistletoe, all of which are often used in plant arrangements.

If you believe your pet has ingested a poison, you should call your vet immediately. If your vet is unavailable, you should contact the ASPCA Poison Hotline at (888) 426-4435. This is a 24 hour/7 day a week service.

From the City's Animal Welfare Committee