Community Profile

City of Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI

Christopher Taylor

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Ann Arbor is a city located along the picturesque Huron River in southeast Michigan. With a population of about 120,000, it is home to over 160 parks, totaling about 2,200 acres. Over half of those acres are comprised of natural areas which are managed and maintained by the Natural Area Preservation division of the Parks and Recreation Services Unit. The University of Michigan and Washtenaw County also own and maintain significant natural acreage within the city. The Ann Arbor community places high importance on environmental stewardship, both on public lands and in private yards. Mayor Christopher Taylor has taken the Mayors' Monarch Pledge in recognition of the importance of the monarch butterfly and other pollinators to the health of our ecosystems and our community members. We are committed to protecting and restoring our precious pollinator habitat.

Community Spotlight

Protecting and Restoring Ann Arbor's Natural Areas

The Natural Area Preservation (NAP) program protects and restores Ann Arbor's natural areas by carrying out ecological restoration projects throughout Ann Arbor's parks.

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Adopt-A-Park

The Adopt-A-Park program promotes long-term partnerships between residents and city government to maintain and beautify Ann Arbor's parks. Volunteers plant and care for native garden beds, among other maintenance projects.

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Action Items Committed for 2025

Communications and Convening ▸

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.)
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 developers, planners, landscape architects, and other community leaders and organizers engaged in planning processes to identify opportunities to create monarch habitat.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
Earn or maintain recognition for being a wildlife-friendly city by participating in other wildlife and habitat conservation efforts (i.e., National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat program).
Initiate or support community science (or citizen science) efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.
Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
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.
Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change ▸

Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.
Reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that are harmful to monarchs and pollinators and urban wildlife.
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 Christopher Taylor	2025	1/17/2025		View Pledge
Mayor Christopher Taylor	2024	2/2/2024	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Christopher Taylor	2023	1/12/2023	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Christopher Taylor	2022	1/25/2022	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Christopher Taylor	2021	1/5/2021	Leadership Circle	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report