Click Here for Tax Sales
Photograph by: Scott Marder/American Red Cross.
American Red Cross Regional CEO Dale Kunce, Red Cross Southern Maryland Chapter Executive Director Keith Perry and others gather at the new Lanham Blood Donation Center for its grand opening, on May 5, 2025.
New Blood Donation Center Opens in Prince George’s County
By PRESS OFFICER
American Red Cross
On Monday, May 5, the American Red Cross held a ribbon-cutting celebration to mark the opening of a new, state-of-the art blood donation center in Lanham, Maryland. This new facility will collect thousands of blood products each year from generous donors who roll up a sleeve to help save lives.
Prince George’s County Health Officer Dr. Matthew Levy spoke during the morning's event and helped cut the ribbon. Maryland District 24 Delegate Andrea Fletcher Harrison also attended and donated blood after the ceremony.
The new Lanham location is one of more than 200 American Red Cross fixed-site blood donor centers across the U.S. The 6,500 square-foot facility has 9 donor beds and will specialize in the collection of whole blood, platelets and red blood cells. Platelets, tiny cells in the blood that form clots and stop bleeding, are most often used by cancer patients and others facing life-threatening illnesses and injuries.
Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a lifesaving blood transfusion. Blood donors who give at this new Red Cross location in Prince George’s county will help ensure that a ready supply of blood is available for patients in need, here in the DMV and across the country.
The new blood center is open four days a week and is located at 9321 Annapolis Road, Lanham, MD 20706. Make an appointment to donate and help save lives at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
TOP OF PAGE
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Selected as a Finalist for the National Gold Medal Award in Parks and Recreation Management
By PRESS OFFICER
M-NCPPC
RIVERDALE, Md. (May 6, 2025)—The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has been selected as a finalist in the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
The Gold Medal is among the highest honors in the parks and recreation industry, recognizing outstanding management and service. M-NCPPC, which includes the Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery Parks, is the only six-time national Gold Medal winner for excellence in parks and recreation management in the nation. The agency earned this prestigious award in 1973, 1977, 1983, 1984, 2003, and 2015 and was also named a finalist in 2023.
“This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication our staff has to serving the Prince George’s County community with high-quality recreational experiences,” said Bill Tyler, director of M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County. “We are proud to represent our community on a national stage and will continue to pursue greatness in everything we do.”
“Being named a finalist for the National Gold Medal Award is a testament to our dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners who work tirelessly to provide exceptional parks and programs,” said Miti Figueredo, director of Montgomery Parks. "This recognition reflects our commitment to fostering social connections, encouraging physical activity, and protecting the environment.”
M-NCPPC is competing for the Gold Medal in the Class I category of park systems with a population of more than 400,001. Other park and recreation agencies competing for the Class I Gold Medal include the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation, Johnson County Park & Recreation District in Shawnee Mission, KS., and Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services in Leesburg, VA.
Founded in 1965 the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the United States that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning. Resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development, and agency recognition. Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those who they serve through collective energies of community members, staff, and elected officials.
The Gold Medal recipient will be announced in September at the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.
With over 29,000 acres of parkland, trails, athletic fields, playgrounds, and more, the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County provides an award-winning park system through progressive, quality, innovative leadership and a commitment to its community and environment. The Department delivers first-class recreational activities and programs for people of all ages and ability levels. It strives to improve the quality of life for Prince George’s County residents and the communities in which they live, work, and raise families. The Department’s Formula 2040 Plan establishes a framework that will ensure the Department can meet future parks and recreation programmatic and facility needs, fulfilling its mission to determine the combination of land, facilities, and programs that will provide appropriate experiences for Prince Georgians in the future. To learn more, visit www.pgparks.com.
TOP OF PAGE
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Selected as a Finalist for the National Gold Medal Award in Parks and Recreation Management
By PRESS OFFICER
M-NCPPC
RIVERDALE, Md. (May 6, 2025)—The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has been selected as a finalist in the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
The Gold Medal is among the highest honors in the parks and recreation industry, recognizing outstanding management and service. M-NCPPC, which includes the Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery Parks, is the only six-time national Gold Medal winner for excellence in parks and recreation management in the nation. The agency earned this prestigious award in 1973, 1977, 1983, 1984, 2003, and 2015 and was also named a finalist in 2023.
“This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication our staff has to serving the Prince George’s County community with high-quality recreational experiences,” said Bill Tyler, director of M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County. “We are proud to represent our community on a national stage and will continue to pursue greatness in everything we do.”
“Being named a finalist for the National Gold Medal Award is a testament to our dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners who work tirelessly to provide exceptional parks and programs,” said Miti Figueredo, director of Montgomery Parks. "This recognition reflects our commitment to fostering social connections, encouraging physical activity, and protecting the environment.”
M-NCPPC is competing for the Gold Medal in the Class I category of park systems with a population of more than 400,001. Other park and recreation agencies competing for the Class I Gold Medal include the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation, Johnson County Park & Recreation District in Shawnee Mission, KS., and Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services in Leesburg, VA.
Founded in 1965 the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the United States that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning. Resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development, and agency recognition. Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those who they serve through collective energies of community members, staff, and elected officials.
The Gold Medal recipient will be announced in September at the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.
With over 29,000 acres of parkland, trails, athletic fields, playgrounds, and more, the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County provides an award-winning park system through progressive, quality, innovative leadership and a commitment to its community and environment. The Department delivers first-class recreational activities and programs for people of all ages and ability levels. It strives to improve the quality of life for Prince George’s County residents and the communities in which they live, work, and raise families. The Department’s Formula 2040 Plan establishes a framework that will ensure the Department can meet future parks and recreation programmatic and facility needs, fulfilling its mission to determine the combination of land, facilities, and programs that will provide appropriate experiences for Prince Georgians in the future. To learn more, visit www.pgparks.com.
TOP OF PAGE
Laurel High School Students Win Prince George’s County 2025 Envirothon Competition
By PRESS OFFICER
Prince George’s Soil Conservation District
BRANDYWINE, Md. (May 5, 2025)—The Prince George’s Soil Conservation District (PGSCD) is pleased to announce that Laurel High School won first-place honors in the 2025 Prince George’s County Envirothon Competition. Oxon Hill High School came in second place. The Prince George’s Soil Conservation District and the William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center hosted the event at the Schmidt Center on April 30, 2025. Seventeen (17) teams from ten (10) Prince George’s County high schools were tested in five categories: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and this year’s fifth issue, “Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change.”
The participating high schools were: Academy of Health Sciences at Prince George’s Community College, Crossland High School, Fairmont Heights High School, Frederick Douglas High School, Gwynn Park High School, High Point High School, Laurel High School, Non-Traditional North Program, Oxon Hill High School, and Potomac High School.
“We are extremely proud of the students who competed in the 2025 Prince George’s County Envirothon competition. Congratulations to the winning team from Laurel High School and to the runners-up from Oxon Hill High School” said Steven E. Darcey, PGSCD’s District Manager. “This year’s program was a great success thanks to the hard work and dedication of the local Envirothon coordinators, resource specialists, coaches, and sponsors. We give heartfelt thanks to everyone involved. Let’s go win the Maryland State Envirothon!”
The event was sponsored by several organizations in addition to PGSCD and Prince George’s County Public School System (PGCPS). The program requires significant funding for instruments, transportation, and lunch, to name a few. This year’s sponsors included Keep Prince George’s County Beautiful, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, Prince George’s County Farm Bureau, Environmental Quality Resources (EQR), Atwell LLC, Robin Hill Farm & Vineyard, and the Forest Garden Club.
“We are proud that our Envirothon students are gaining the knowledge, skills, and leadership experience needed to address complex environmental challenges.” said Dr. Stephen Biller, Environmental Outreach Educator with the Department of Environmental Education at the William S. Schmidt Center. “Through the Envirothon, students not only learn to tackle pressing local and global issues but also inspire action in their communities and promote a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability.”
PGSCD and the Schmidt Center collaborated with partners from the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission’s Parks and Recreation division, Maryland’s USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), and Prince George’s County’s Department of the Environment to provide training opportunities and resources to teams and their coaches.
Envirothon Coach, Nadisha Clayton-Garrison, says, “We’re incredibly proud of the students for winning again this year. Their dedication and perseverance continue to inspire me. Despite the demands of academics and other co-curricular commitments, they remain focused, resilient, and committed to excellence. It’s an honor to see their hard work pay off.”
The winning team from Laurel High School will head to the State competition at the Western Maryland 4H Park in Swanton, June 11–12. The Maryland State Envirothon champions will advance to the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon competition held July 20–26 at Canada Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta.
With more counties and states participating each year, the Envirothon competition continues to expand its reach. PGSCD remains committed to its goal to educate as many students and teachers as possible on the importance of conserving our natural resources to preserve and protect the environment. As always, we are #PrinceGeorgesProud!
TOP OF PAGE
