Community Profile

Pledge Status

Did Not Report

Pledge Date

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Program Year

2022

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Action Item Report

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City of Plainwell

Plainwell, MI

Brad Keeler

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Plainwell is a small city of about 4,000 residents nestled in a beautiful setting on the Kalamazoo River. The river and surrounding areas are the backdrop for lush gardens and parks along the winding river trail. Plainwell features 7 bridges and 7 parks, each with their own unique features and amenities. The City Department of Public Works and the Parks & Trees Commission thoughtfully plan and maintain the parks and green spaces. The Mayor and City of Plainwell are committed to encouraging Monarch Butterfly population growth and are partnering with neighboring communities to further that goal. Current projects include creating a seed library and planning a seed swap, as well as creating new butterfly and pollinator gardens.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2022

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 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.
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.
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.
Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.

Systems Change ▸

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.
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 Brad Keeler	2022	3/22/2022		View Pledge