Community Profile

Pledge Status

Active

Pledge Date

Friday, May 1, 2026

Program Year

2026

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Action Item Report

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Town of Front Royal

FRONT ROYAL, VA

Lori Cockrell

Mayor of Front Royal

Pledge Summary

Front Royal, located in Warren County, sits within Virginia's picturesque Shenandoah Valley. As the entry point to Shenandoah National Park, this town provides entry to Skyline Drive and the winding Shenandoah River. The region is renowned for its deep heritage alongside tranquil, rural vistas. Mayor Cockrell has pledged to protect monarch butterflies and additional pollinators, aiming to involve citizens in establishing diverse nectar-rich environments across the community.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2026

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

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

Systems Change

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Launch, expand, or continue one or more ordinances to reduce light pollution to benefit urban wildlife.