Community Profile

Pledge Status

Did Not Report

Pledge Date

Friday, February 5, 2021

Program Year

2021

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Action Item Report

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Village of Elwood

Elwood, IL

Doug Jenco

Village President

Pledge Summary

The Village of Elwood is a quaint vibrant community located in the heart of Will County with a population of approximately 2300 people. We are blessed with open lands where wildlife is thriving. We are located steps from the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Midewin was the first national tallgrass prairie ever designated in the U.S. and the largest conservation site in the region. The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, located in the Village of Elwood, is a 982-acre cemetery. Village President Doug Jenco and Elwood’s citizens have already joined in creating and will continue creating healthy habitats for the magnificent monarch butterflies.

Community Spotlight

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Children's Garden

Garden full of pollinators, flowers, etc.

Action Items Committed for 2021

Communications and Convening

  • 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 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.

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.

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 an effort to change municipal planting ordinances and practices to include more native milkweed and native nectar producing plants at city properties.