Community Profile

Hillsborough Township

Hillsborough, NJ

Catherine Payne

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Hillsborough Township, located in Somerset Country, is centrally located in the state of New Jersey with a population approaching 45,000. Hillsborough spans over 50 square miles and offers over 15 public parks through the municipality. Mayor Payne and the Township Committee have committed to supporting the Mayors Monarch pledge through action item projects accomplished throughout the town. Hillsborough's plans include to not only continue the beautification of its parks, but to also provide natural habitats for the monarch butterflies throughout the community. This would be Hillsborough's second year participating in the Mayors Monarch Pledge. Last year we had planted multiple pollinator gardens, hosted community education sessions and provided information to residents which provided guidance should they want to create their own pollinator gardens on their property. **Please note that while we will be selecting action items, we will be confirming throughout the year initiatives we're able to accomplish based on budget, staff and community involvement**

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2026

Communications and Convening ▸

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.
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.
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.
Create a community art project to enhance and promote monarch and pollinator conservation as well as cultural awareness and recognition.

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.
Launch or maintain an outdoor education program(s) (e.g., at schools, after-school programs, community centers and groups) that builds awareness and creates habitat by engaging students, educators, and the community in planting native milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants (i.e., National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitats program and Monarch Mission curriculum).
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.
Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
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.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Catherine Payne	2026	3/31/2026		View Pledge
Mayor John Ciccarelli	2025	3/30/2025	Leadership Circle	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report