Community Profile

Elm Grove

Elm Grove, WI

Jim Koleski

Village President

Pledge Summary

Elm Grove is a village of just 3.29 square miles (6,524 in population) that was incorporated in 1955. The community was named America’s best suburb by Business Insider in 2014 and proudly became the first community in the state of Wisconsin to achieve the National Wildlife Federation’s Community Habitat designation on 1/27/23. The community takes pride in its Tree City USA, Bird City Wisconsin High Flyer, and Bee City USA designations. Our small community has 8 certified Monarch Waystations via the Monarch Watch, one of which is at our 79 acre village park, which was named in Rob Bignell’s book, Wisconsin’s Best Wildflower Hikes. Our community has been dedicated to increasing awareness about the plight of the monarch butterfly through ongoing community education and outreach programs including native plant sales, village displays, native plant gardens, book clubs, and monarch activist speakers. Elm Grove is proud to add the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge to its list of important commitments.

Community Spotlight

Elm Grove Monarch Milkweed Map

Starting in 2020, the Elm Grove Beautification Committee started adding an orange dot to every property that was growing one of the twelve native Wisconsin varieties of Asclepias. Our 2025 goal was to attain 400 dots. We proudly achieved 430 dots!

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 community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
Create a community art project to enhance and promote monarch and pollinator conservation as well as cultural awareness and recognition.
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.

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.
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).
Host or support a monarch neighborhood challenge to engage neighborhoods and homeowners' associations within the community to increase awareness, support community unity around a common mission, and/or create habitat for the monarch butterfly.
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.

Systems Change ▸

Reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that are harmful to monarchs and pollinators and urban wildlife.
Remove milkweed from the list of noxious plants in city weed / landscaping ordinances (if applicable).
Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Village President James Koleski	2026	1/23/2026		View Pledge
Village President Jim Koleski	2025	1/23/2025	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Village president Jim Koleski	2024	12/15/2023	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Village President Jim Koleski	2023	3/8/2023	Leadership Circle	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Achievement

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report