Community Profile

Pledge Status

Did Not Report

Pledge Date

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Program Year

2021

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Action Item Report

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Moon Township

Moon, PA

John Hertzer

Chair of Moon Township Board of Supervisors

Pledge Summary

Moon Township is a suburb of Pittsburgh in Western Pennsylvania. The Township is home to a population of approximately 25,000 people. Moon Township has a long standing tradition of investment in public parks and open space. The township has three landmark parks that feature over 600 acres of open space and over 15 miles of hiking trails. In 2019 the Township began converting open areas of both Robin Hill Park and Moon Park into no-mow wildflower meadows. These meadows have been planted with a special blend of native wildflowers and grasses specifically for pollinators. At the end of 2021 we will have over 2 acres planted. In addition, the theme of our 2021 Earth Day event on Sunday, April 25th is "Save the Monarchs." The event will feature pollinator specific activities and information.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2021

Communications and Convening

  • Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
  • 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

  • Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
  • Launch or maintain an outdoor education program(s) (e.g., at schools, after-school programs, community centers and groups) that builds awareness and creates habitat by engaging students, educators, and the community in planting native milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants (i.e., National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitats program and Monarch Mission curriculum).

Systems Change

  • Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.
  • Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate.