Community Profile

Pledge Status

Complete

Pledge Date

Monday, March 20, 2023

Program Year

2023

Achievement

2023

Links and Uploads

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Action Item Report

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City of North Mankato

North Mankato, MN

Scott Carlson

Mayor

Pledge Summary

North Mankato Minnesota is a community with a population of over 14,000. We currently have prairies at Benson Park, Bluff Park and a small demonstration prairie at City Hall along with 19 other community parks, which incorporate Pollinator gardens. In 2022 an area in Spring Lake Park was transitioned into a sanctuary garden. A 5-year plan is in place to make another pollinator garden. Mayor Carlson of North Mankato has committed to saving the Monarch butterfly and other pollinators with the signing of the Mayors' Monarch pledge. It is our goal to work with Local Master Gardeners and the 4H groups to help in the education to our citizens about pollinator gardens and their purpose. We will also give our citizens the option of a "No Mow May" in their yard for the second year in a row.

Community Spotlight

Let's Pollinate 2021!

Off to plant plugs!

Let's Pollinate 2022

Prairie Planting Demonstration by Minnesota Natural Landscapes and Nicollet 4-H members

Let's Pollinate 2022!

Residents helped plant 300 plugs

Let's Pollinate 2023!

Rainy day at Spring Lake Park, but we planted 300 Blazing Star plugs.

Let's Pollinate 2024

City of North Mankato Sanctuary Garden. Designed in 2022 and is a work in progress.

Action Items Committed for 2023

Communications and Convening ▸

Issue a proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat. This proclamation must incorporate a focus on monarch conservation.
Engage with gardening leaders and partners (e.g., Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Nature Centers, Native Plant Society Chapters , other long-standing and influential community leaders) to support monarch butterfly conservation.
Engage with city parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.
Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Scott Carlson	2024	3/7/2024	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Scott Carlson	2023	3/20/2023	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Mark Dehen	2022	2/8/2022	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Mark Dehen	2021	3/9/2021	Signatories	View Pledge