Community Profile

Pledge Status

Complete

Pledge Date

Friday, February 17, 2023

Program Year

2023

Achievement

Leadership Circle

2023

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Action Item Report

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City of Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake, IL

Haig Haleblian

Mayor

Pledge Summary

The City of Crystal Lake is located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, IL with a population of over 40,000 residents. Crystal Lake is home to two public lakes, multiple public parks, and community gardens. Mayor Haleblian has committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators with the signing of the Mayors' Monarch Pledge. The City of Crystal Lake looks forward to engaging with residents in building more pollinator habitats in the City.

Community Spotlight

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Pollinator Seed Packets

The City of Crystal Lake has provided pollinator seed packets at community events throughout 2022. Specifically, butterfly weed packets have been provided to promote the Monarch Butterfly habitat and to encourage pollinator planting.

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Invasive Species Treated

The City's ecological contractor continued to treat invasive species at the City-owned Three Oaks Recreation Area and various native gardens owned by the City of Crystal Lake. Invasive willows were treated and removed from the park in 2022.

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Public Communication Efforts

The City of Crystal Lake has created a special web page on the City's website for the Mayors' Monarch Pledge. This is in addition to web pages that highlight green initiatives in the City.

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Action Items Committed for 2023

Communications and Convening

  • Create a community art project to enhance and promote monarch and pollinator conservation as well as cultural awareness and recognition.
  • Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
  • Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. (If you have community members who speak a language other than English, we encourage you to also communicate in that language; Champion Pledges must communicate in that language.)

Program and Demonstration Gardens

  • Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.
  • Host or support a monarch butterfly festival that is accessible to all residents in the community and promotes monarch and pollinator conservation, as well as cultural awareness and recognition.
  • Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
  • 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.

Systems Change

  • Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.
  • Launch, expand, or continue an effort to change municipal planting ordinances and practices to include more native milkweed and native nectar producing plants at city properties.