City of Charleston
Charleston, IL
Dr. Brandon Combs
Summary for 2026
Charleston is a community in east central Illinois with approximately 17,000 located in the Grand Prairie eco-region in Illinois. Charleston has partnered with the non-profit organization Urban Butterfly Initiative to provide environments that prompt conservation of the monarch butterfly and other pollinators, while at the same time engaging the community with spaces and activities revolving around nature and non-consumptive uses of natural resources.
City of Columbia, SC
Columbia, SC
Daniel Rickenmann
Summary for 2026
Columbia is the capital city of South Carolina with a population of more than 135,000 residents. The city sits at the confluence of the Saluda and Broad Rivers, forming the Congaree River, and is home to beautiful green spaces including Finlay Park and the Three Rivers Greenway, as well as vibrant neighborhoods and community initiatives. Mayor Daniel Rickenmann of Columbia, South Carolina has committed to protecting the monarch butterfly and other pollinators through the signing of the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge and looks forward to engaging residents in expanding pollinator habitats and sustainable practices throughout the city.
City of Leander
Leander, TX
Na' Cole Thompson
Summary for 2026
Leander is a growing city of nearly 100,000 residents on the edge of the Hill Country in Central Texas. We believe our city should set an example for good stewardship of our environment. Further, many of our residents have a deep interest in nature and environmental topics. Since we are located in the middle of the eastern monarch's migratory flyway, we are in a good spot to take action to support the monarch. The Mayors Monarch Pledge gives us a great way to engage with our residents in a positive way. We often link it with our water conservation work, since efforts to support the monarch are related to growing native plants in our landscapes.
City of Cooper City
Cooper City, FL
James Curran
Summary for 2026
Cooper City is a lovely bedroom community in Broward County with approximately 35,000+residents, founded in 1959 by Morris Cooper. Many families and young professionals live heredue to their excellent school system, safe environment and quality sports programs. CooperCity takes great pride in their well maintained mature tree canopy evidenced by their City logowhich is a tree with the words "Someplace Special". This extensive tree canopy providestremendous amounts of wildlife habitat.
Town of Irondequoit
Rochester, NY
John Perticone
Summary for 2026
Irondequoit is a unique Town on the southern shore of Lake Ontario with a population of 50,000 residents. Bordered by water on three sides, Irondequoit surrounds Durand Eastman Park. Due to its geographical location, land stewardship and environmental conservation are at the forefront of the Town's priorities. Irondequoit's Supervisor, Town Board, staff and residents are committed to helping improve pollinator habitats on public land, while partnering with local organizations to educate the community to do the same.
City of Oakland Park
OAKLAND PARK, FL
Steve Arnst
Summary for 2026
Oakland Park, Florida is a vibrant and diverse city in the heart of Broward County, known for its strong sense of community and commitment to environmental stewardship. With a mix of residential neighborhoods, parks, waterways, and local businesses, the City is focused on enhancing quality of life while supporting urban biodiversity. As part of this commitment, Oakland Park is taking meaningful steps to support monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation by integrating native and pollinator friendly landscaping into public spaces, parks, and streetscapes. These efforts include planting milkweed and nectar rich plants that provide essential habitat for monarchs throughout their life cycle.
City of Malden, MA
Malden, MA
Gary Christenson
Summary for 2026
Malden is located 3 miles north of Boston and is a community with 66,000 residents We are commited to restoring butterfly habitats by implementing projects such as planting milkweed, holding native seed swaps, and modifying mowing schedules. The program aims to increase biodiversity, create sustainable landscapes, and engage communities in conversation.
City of Milton
Milton, WI
Eric Stockman
Summary for 2026
The City of Milton, located in southern Wisconsin with a population of approximately 5,687, is dedicated to preserving and enhancing natural habitats for pollinators. The City offers numerous parks and a community garden for public enjoyment. As part of this commitment, Milton has established prairie habitats to support native plant species and pollinators. Crossridge Park features a 4-acre prairie where an annual prairie seed collection event is held to promote community involvement and sustainability. Additionally, Bendlin Prairie at Tower Hill Park further expands habitat opportunities for pollinators. Mayor Welch has demonstrated the City’s dedication to protecting monarch butterflies and other vital pollinators by signing the Mayors' Monarch Pledge. This pledge reinforces Milton’s commitment to conservation efforts that support healthy ecosystems and protect these essential species for future generations.
Shorewood
Shorewood, WI
Rebecca Ewald
Summary for 2026
The Village of Shorewood is located in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Approximately a mile square, the Village is bordered by Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River. It's population of more than 13,000 people is known for it's diversity and commitment to education and environment. The Village of Shorewood is committed to the creation and preservation of natural wildlife habitats . As part of those efforts, the Shorewood Monarch Project, an inter-generational community initiative, was created to increase awareness about the importance of butterflies, bees, and other pollinating insects and to encourage residents to conserve and create healthy habitats for pollinators in their own yards. The village maintains two certified Monarch Waystations including a colossal waystation along the Lake Michigan migratory pathway. Shorewood has participated in the Mayor's Monarch Pledge since 2016 at a leadership level. We are also a member of the Wisconsin Monarch Collaborative. Our local efforts include maintaining a number of native public gardens and green spaces through out the Village, annual distribution of milkweed plants, encouraging residents to create butterfly gardens by offering workshops, garden photo-contests, and social media posts. We also work with schools on education efforts related to butterfly conservation. Our local public library hosts an annual live caterpillar to butterfly exhibit to educate the public about the monarch lifecycle and generate interest in the plight of monarch butterflies.
Village of Willowbrook
Willowbrook, IL
Frank Trilla
Summary for 2026
Willowbrook is a Village within the Chicagoland area, a southwestern suburb of the City of Chicago, with a population just over 9,000. The Village is located within DuPage County and is home to many parks and public greenspace, many of our Village parks have or are undergoing redevelopment which will see the installation of several features that will help increase the monarch butterfly population. Mayor Trilla has committed to helping save monarch butterflies and other pollinators with his signing of the Mayors' Monarch Pledge and looks forward to engaging residents in building more pollinator habitat throughout the Village.
