Community Profile

Pledge Status

Active

Pledge Date

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Program Year

2026

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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 2026

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.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

  • Convert vacant lots to monarch habitat.
  • Plant milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants along roadsides, medians, or public rights-of-way.
  • 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).
  • 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).
  • 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.
  • Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.
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