Community Profile

Pledge Status

Complete

Pledge Date

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Program Year

2021

Achievement

2021

Links and Uploads

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Action Item Report

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City of Rapid City

Rapid City, SD

Steve Allender

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Rapid City is a fast-growing community located in western South Dakota with a population of 78,000. The city is located at the base of the beautiful Black Hills, about 30 minutes from Mount Rushmore, and has an extensive greenway and parks system and many community gardens. This "City of Presidents" values its natural surroundings and understands the importance of maintaining high levels of environmental quality, from bees to trees, as demonstrated by its Bee City USA and Tree City USA designations. Mayor Allender, with the support of the Rapid City Parks & Recreation Department and Standing Committee on Sustainability, has committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators with their signing of the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge and looks forward to engaging residents in building more pollinator habitat throughout the city.

Community Spotlight

2021 Pollinator Week Event

Three children coloring in pollinator-themed coloring sheets at the June 26th, 2021 Pollinator Week Celebration Event held at the Black Hills Farmers Market in Rapid City

Action Items Committed for 2021

Communications and Convening ▸

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.
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.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.

Systems Change ▸

Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate.
Launch, expand, or continue one or more ordinances to reduce light pollution to benefit urban wildlife.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Steve Allender	2022	3/10/2022	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Steve Allender	2021	3/31/2021	Signatories	View Pledge