In the dynamic landscape of Maryland counties, innovation, and progress are vital for success. Enter the Partnership for Active Learning in Sustainability (PALS), a groundbreaking initiative that connects county governments with the expertise of University of Maryland students to tackle real-world challenges.

PALS is designed to provide innovative, low-cost assistance to local governments while creating real-world problem-solving experiences for University of Maryland graduate and undergraduate students. In their coursework, students address issues like municipal service provision and management, economic development, environmental shifts, park and streetscape design, transportation operations, and more.

The wide range of disciplines collaborating through PALS allows the partnering jurisdiction to address many real-world challenges. Because of their interest and commitment to action learning, faculty volunteering for the PALS program incorporate the jurisdiction’s specific issues as part of their course’s applied exercise. Students then get to put classroom concepts and inventive thinking to work to complete these projects while working with a real client and producing a useful product for the partner city or county.

County leaders like Greg Pizzuto, former director of Visit Harford!, have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of PALS. Recognizing the untapped potential of county trails to attract visitors, Pizzuto enlisted the help of PALS students to gather data and insights. The result? A redesigned website that not only boosted visitor engagement but also elevated the overall county experience.

Since its inception in 2012, PALS has become an invaluable asset for county development initiatives across Maryland. From economic revitalization to environmental conservation, students delve into various county-specific issues, guided by faculty mentors and supported by local stakeholders. An analysis of work done for the City of Frederick, the program’s first client, estimated that over 50,000 student and faculty work hours were dedicated to projects ranging from small business development, eliminating invasive plant species in the watershed, and exploring a citywide restaurant-composting program. That was $900,000 worth of work, averaging about ten dollars of product work for every dollar spent.

Joe Adkins, Planning Director for the City of Frederick, speaks to the program’s impact: “The level of commitment of the students and faculty at UMD was completely unexpected. The students jumped into each project with a zeal that was contagious to the staff. The final student products not only provided the information, but also created a clear vision on how to proceed with the project. The PALS partnership helped to open our eyes to the great things that are already in place and the new ideas that can be used to improve the great quality of life that we expect in the city.”

Under the stewardship of current director Kim Fisher, PALS continues to expand its reach, forging strategic partnerships with counties statewide. Fisher’s vision extends to smaller, resource-constrained counties, where PALS expertise can make a significant difference.

Students’ enthusiasm is infectious, driven by the opportunity to effect tangible change in their counties.

Claire Worshtil, a Capital Budget Manager with Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation, praises the students’ dedication: “They brought focus to the project and developed recommendations that are guiding our efforts.”

From dog parks to urban design, PALS projects embody a rigorous approach grounded in observation, research, and analysis.

Gina Porter of the Baltimore Department of Parks and Recreation underscores their professionalism: “What they did for us will be the basis of future work.”

Is your county ready to harness the power of PALS? With a proven track record and wealth of expertise, the program is prepared to tackle tomorrow’s county-specific challenges, one project at a time.

Contact PALS Today to Learn More

PALS at a Glance:

• Launched in 2014 in partnership with the City of Frederick (Frederick County)
• Collaborated with 23 counties and engaged nearly 2,400 students and faculty
• Projects span diverse county-focused areas, including economic development, urban design, and information technology