Community Profile

City of Lincoln

Lincoln, NE

Leirion Gaylor Baird

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Lincoln is the capital city of Nebraska and home to almost 300,000 people. Lincoln has a long and strong tradition of land use planning that prioritizes greenspaces and natural areas. Lincoln also has a long history of working with partners to preserve natural resources, with tallgrass prairie, riparian areas, and rare Eastern Saline Wetlands being the focus of the efforts.

Community Spotlight

Preservation of 40 acres of prairie

We were able to purchase a 40 acre parcel with about 18 acres of high diversity native planting An additional 13 acres of pasture will be rehabilitated to prairie and additional diversification of the seeding will continue.

Action Items Committed for 2026

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 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.
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 Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Community Associations or neighborhood organizations to identify opportunities to plant monarch gardens and revise maintenance and mowing programs.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Facilitate or support a milkweed seed collection and propagation effort.
Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
Initiate or support community science (or citizen science) efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.
Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change ▸

Remove milkweed from the list of noxious plants in city weed / landscaping ordinances (if applicable).
Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.
Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird	2026	3/16/2026		View Pledge
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird	2025	4/1/2025	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird	2023	3/17/2023	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird	2022	5/3/2022	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird	2021	4/9/2021	Leadership Circle	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report