Community Profile

City of Thornton

Thornton, CO

Jan Kulmann

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Thornton is situated on the Front Range, just north of Denver and is a city growing in population annually. In 1990 there were 60,000 residents and as of 2020 we are just under 150,000. This growth has created a diverse community and the offerings in town are varied to accommodate the perceived and real need. The department of Parks, Recreation & Community Programs has been quite active in fostering and growing community engagement toward environmental education and stewardship and this pledge is a result of the groundwork already laid in our quest for continual improvement in making Thornton the best place to live, work, play, and retire not only in the State of Colorado but also in the nation.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2021

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.
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.
Create a community-driven educational conservation strategy, initiative, or practice that focuses on and benefits local, underserved residents.
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.
Initiate or support community science (or citizen science) efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.
Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
Host or support a monarch butterfly festival that is accessible to all residents in the community and promotes monarch and pollinator conservation, as well as cultural awareness and recognition.
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.
Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.
Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate.
Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Jan Kulmann	2026	1/8/2026		View Pledge
Mayor Jan Kulmann	2025	2/7/2025	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Jan Kulmann	2023	3/2/2023	Signatories	View Pledge
Mayor Jan Kulmann	2022	4/15/2022		View Pledge
Mayor Jan Kulmann	2021	2/17/2021		View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report