Community Profile

Pledge Status

Complete

Pledge Date

Friday, February 23, 2024

Program Year

2024

Achievement

Signatories

2024

Links and Uploads

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Action Item Report

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City of Gahanna

Gahanna, OH

Laurie Jadwin

Mayor

Pledge Summary

The City of Gahanna is a suburb of Columbus, Ohio with a population of 35,000 residents. Although we are in an urban setting, we manage over 750 acres of parkland and natural areas. We aim to improve pollinator and monarch habitat by installing pollinator gardens, planting milkweed, and adding more prairies throughout the city.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2024

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.

Program and Demonstration Gardens

  • Plant milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants along roadsides, medians, or public rights-of-way.
  • 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).
  • Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.

Systems Change

  • Remove milkweed from the list of noxious plants in city weed / landscaping ordinances (if applicable).
  • Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate.
  • Reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that are harmful to monarchs and pollinators and urban wildlife.