Community Profile

Town of Hempstead

Hempstead, NY

John Ferretti

Town Supervisor

Pledge Summary

The Town of Hempstead is proud to be America's largest township, with a population of approximately 780,000 people, and one of the nation's oldest, dating back to 1644. Located just east of New York City and bordered by the Hempstead Bay estuary and Atlantic Ocean to the south, the Town encompasses more than 142 square miles, 20,000 acres of wetlands, and 180 miles of coastal waterways. Since first taking the Pledge in 2022, the Town has proudly achieved Leadership Circle status every year, including 2024 and 2025. As we continue our participation, the Town is committing to actions that build upon the successful programs established between 2022 and 2025. These initiatives include public outreach and education about native pollinator plants, a citizen science project tagging monarch butterflies in partnership with Camp ANCHOR in Lido Beach, and the ongoing maintenance of several demonstration gardens at Town facilities. To directly support many of these action items, the Town also owns and operates a greenhouse dedicated to cultivating native pollinator plant species.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2026

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.
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 Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Community Associations or neighborhood organizations to identify opportunities to plant monarch gardens and revise maintenance and mowing programs.

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.
Plant milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants along roadsides, medians, or public rights-of-way.
Initiate or support community science (or citizen science) efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.
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.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Town Supervisor John Ferretti	2026	3/27/2026		View Pledge
Town Supervisor Don Clavin	2025	3/28/2025	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Town Supervisor Don Clavin	2024	3/19/2024	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Town Supervisor Don Clavin	2023	3/28/2023	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Town Supervisor Don Clavin	2022	4/27/2022	Leadership Circle	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads