Community Profile

Pledge Status

Active

Pledge Date

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Program Year

2026

Links and Uploads

View Links and Uploads

Action Item Report

Download Report

City of Harvard

Harvard, IL

Michael Kelly

Mayor

Pledge Summary

The City of Harvard is a culturally diverse community of about 10,000 people with historical and present ties to the agricultural community in and around our City. We are proud to be a part of the Monarch Pledge and have annually grown our dedicated spaces to monarch and pollination conservation.

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 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 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

  • 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.
  • Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change

  • Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate.
  • Launch, expand, or continue one or more ordinances to reduce light pollution to benefit urban wildlife.