Community Profile

Town of York

York, ME

Todd Frederick

Selectboard, Chair

Pledge Summary

The Town of York, comprised of Cape Neddick, York Harbor, York Village and York Beach, is in the southern tip of Maine and has a population of over 13,000 year-round residents. This coastal community is home to the Nubble Lighthouse, Mount Agamenticus, and is famous for its long sandy beaches. York also has large areas of forest, community parks, fields, and green space along with some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the state. In our recent Comprehensive Plan, a top goal is to preserve, protect, and enhance natural resources to include wildlife habitat. We are pledging to help protect and increase public awareness of Maine’s native pollinators, to include the monarch butterfly, and their habitats.

Community Spotlight

York Parks & Recreation Springtime Surprises 2023

Seed ball activity at York Parks & Recreation Department's Springtime Surprises free community event!

Milkweed Propagation

Transplanting milkweed seedlings for free give-away during Old York Garden Club's annual plant sale

Monarch & Native Aster

A monarch butterfly fueling up for migration along York's Cliff Walk

Hungry Caterpillar

Monarch caterpillar feeding on native milkweed at York's Mt. Agamenticus

Action Items Committed for 2023

Communications and Convening ▸

Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. (If you have community members who speak a language other than English, we encourage you to also communicate in that language; Champion Pledges must communicate in that language.)
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 ▸

Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
Facilitate or support a milkweed seed collection and propagation effort.
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.

Systems Change ▸

Reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that are harmful to monarchs and pollinators and urban wildlife.
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 an effort to change municipal planting ordinances and practices to include more native milkweed and native nectar producing plants at city properties.
Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.
Launch, expand, or continue one or more ordinances to reduce light pollution to benefit urban wildlife.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Selectboard, Chair Todd Frederick	2025	2/3/2025		View Pledge
Selectboard, Chair Todd Frederick	2024	3/22/2024	Signatories	View Pledge
Selectboard, Chair Todd Frederick	2023	2/10/2023	Leadership Circle	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Achievement

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report