Community Profile

City of Wheat Ridge

City of Wheat Ridge, CO

Korey Stites

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Wheat Ridge is a thriving small city just outside of Denver, Colorado, known for its strong sense of community, commitment to sustainability, and rich agricultural history. As part of our dedication to environmental stewardship, we recognize the vital role of pollinators in maintaining healthy ecosystems and supporting local biodiversity. Through initiatives like the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, Wheat Ridge is working to protect and enhance pollinator habitats by planting native species, educating residents, and promoting sustainable landscaping practices. By prioritizing these efforts, we aim to create a more resilient and vibrant environment for both people and wildlife.

Community Spotlight

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

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Korey Stites	2026	3/27/2026		View Pledge
Mayor Bud Starker	2025	3/20/2025		View Pledge
Mayor Bud Starker	2024	3/15/2024	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Bud Starker	2023	4/26/2023	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Bud Starker	2022	3/31/2022	Signatories	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report