Subject: Floodplain

Contains: - The cover page contains various icons representative of Lakeland, such as the streetcar trolley sign and the railroad crossing; - The schedule for the weekend, detailing the events for the community party on Saturday and the religious service on Sunday; - An introductory piece, explaining the mission of the weekend and the Lakeland Community Heritage Project; - An overview of Lakeland history. Noted image of a house is the "Hicks house;" - Brief descriptions of Lakeland's churches and Lakeland's clubs.; - A description of the families of Lakeland and how they were forced out of their homes by Urban Renewal. Contains a description of the history and impact of Lake Artemesia; - More descripition of the erasure of a large part of the community, then recognition of how it's come back stronger than before; - A family tree template; - The order of service for the religious service on the Sunday., Empty space for notes and resources with which one could find their family history. On the right side, a map of eastern Lakeland; - The final page of the pamphlet, with thank-yous and acknowledgements.

On the left of the street was the only area storm drain. It emptied into Navahoe Street. The western section of Lakeland frequently flooded after a heavy rain, as shown in the photograph. On June 23, 1972, tropical storm Agnes devastated Lakeland and much of the region. Flood waters covered the entire community, damaging many homes and destroying several others. Following the storm, efforts to obtain effective flood control and redevelopment were taken up with a new urgency. Finally, a flood control project by the Army Corp of Engineers was approved, and the Lakeland Urban Renewal Project began to receive necessary governmental approvals for work to begin.

Oral History with Bab Catlin, College Park City Councilman, about Lakeland and College Park since 1985.

Copies on both Omeka and hard drive. Hard drive files are split across two tracks/files: Leonard Smith Interview 04-21-13 -1.caf (01:15:51) and Leonard Smith Interview 04-21-13 -2.caf (4:59)

Washington Post July 31, 1972 Eugene L. Meyer Page C1 Image of Paint Branch accompanies the article. Caption reads “ Paint Branch will be widened, deepened and straightened if Army Corps of Engineers’ plan is put in effect.” Leonard Smith is quoted in giving his experience of flooding during tropical storm Agnes last month. A 30 year resident of Lakeland community of 147 Black and 30 white families between Paint Branch and Indian Creek. Enacting the Corp of Engineers plan would end the treat of future flooding. They would widen, deepen and straighten the waterways. Conservationist object charging the work would diminish the area’s natural beauty and fail to resolve the flooding problems. There is opposition between the theory that the national environment should not take priority over the built environment, businesses and homes. The more than 10 year old plan will be brought to the National Capital Planning Commission next week. The creeks are home to many types of small animals. The project is expected to cost about $900,000. A 1960s plan for the area would have lined the upstream banks with concrete. This has been changed to the use of rocks instead. Most of the land belongs to Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the rest would be purchased by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. The College Park Ecological Association representative Judy Comparetto expressed the desire for an option which would not harm the river. Those living near the creeks, government officials favor the Corp’s plan. Some argue that the work would create new problems downstream. To this College Park City Council Member Dougherty stated “The night of Agnes” “I stood down there and helped 147 families out of Lakeland, and I did not see a beaver, raccoon or eel or any of the ecologists or conservationists. However, I saw an awful lot of cold, frightened people” Mrs. Comparetto said “The only solution is to get those people to higher ground, and don’t develop where you know it will be flooded out”

Washington Post March 30, 1896 Page 10 Reservoir Needed for the Columbia and Maryland Power-house. A contract was awarded for construction of a dam and reservoir on Paint Branch between College Park and Lakeland for the supply of water to the power house of the electric railway. It will be about 200 yards west of the tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad a bridge to cross Paint Branch will be in the same area.

Michael Wysolmerski Environmental Studies 2011-2012 Senior Project Advisor: Professor Paul Sabin Flood Control for Lakeland