Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, IA
Thomas Wieseler
Summary for 2026
Mount Vernon is a bedroom community of 4527 situated in east central Iowa between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Our citizens are focused on all things involving sustainability and that includes earning certificates like Tree City, Bee City USA and of course as a monarch friendly community. Our cause is helped with an 1100 student private college, Cornell, in our town.
Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Joseph L. Cobb
Summary for 2026
Roanoke, also known as "The Star City of the South," is a diverse, inclusive and multicultural community dedicated to creating a livable environment through interwoven equity. We are a Bee City, are growing the number of pollinator gardens within our park system and throughout the city, are home to the Mill Mountain wild flower gardens and Mill Mountain Zoo, and have dedicated citizens working with local government to ensure a sustainable climate and environmental focus for years to come.
Village of Lake in the Hills
Lake in the Hills, IL
Ray Bogdanowski
Summary for 2026
The Village of Lake in the Hills has taken this pledge annually for a number of years to promote awareness and value of pollinators to the community.
City of Perrysburg
Perrysburg, OH
Mark Weber
Summary for 2026
Perrysburg is a growing community located in Northwest Ohio, on the Maumee River. Through our Natural Resources Division and our Department of Public Service, we have committed to many pollinator friendly activities. A few of these actions include educating the public on pollinator friendly native gardening, including rain gardens through our Master Rain Gardener Certification classes, the installation and maintenance of multiple native plant gardens on city property, and will be including signage at these designated locations in 2026. We encourage our parks and service crew applicators to leave milkweed in garden beds, and train them on where to and where not to mow based on the area and time of year. We have updated city ordinance section 660.14 language to allow native planting areas without them being considered a public nuisance since 2017. We plan to explore other options to continue this commitment to monarchs and pollinators each year in our natural resources planning.
Watchung Borough
Watchung, NJ
Ronald Jubin, PhD
Summary for 2026
Watchung is a Borough with a population of ~6500 located in central New Jersey. We are home to both Best Lake and Watchung Lake which are surrounded by walking paths and natural areas. We have an active Green Team and Environmental Commission who focus on conservation projects such as tree preservation and establishing a riparian buffer to improve habitat and water quality. We are excited to expand on these efforts by focusing on Monarch conservation.
Village of Flossmoor
Flossmoor, IL
Michelle Nelson
Summary for 2026
The Village of Flossmoor is a vibrant and welcoming community of approximately 9,700 residents, located about 25 miles south of the City of Chicago. Known for its strong sense of community and commitment to sustainability, the Village continues to prioritize initiatives that enhance quality of life for its residents. Mayor Nelson has demonstrated a clear dedication to environmental stewardship, particularly in supporting the preservation of the monarch butterfly and other vital pollinators. By signing the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, the Village is committed to engaging residents, organizations, and local partners in expanding pollinator-friendly habitats and promoting ecological awareness throughout the community.
Manitowoc
Manitowoc, WI
Justin Nickels
Summary for 2026
Manitowoc is a historic, family-friendly city of approximately 35,000 residents on the western shore of Lake Michigan, widely known as Wisconsin's Maritime Capital. It boasts a rich industrial history in shipbuilding, particularly submarines during WWII, and now features the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, sandy beaches, a bustling marina, the S.S. Badger ferry, and attractions like the Rahr-West Art Museum. Key Features and Highlights: Location: Situated on Lake Michigan, about 40 minutes from Green Bay and 90 minutes from Milwaukee. Maritime Heritage: Known for building 28 submarines during World War II, it hosts the largest maritime museum in the Midwest, where visitors can tour the USS Cobia submarine. Attractions: Rahr-West Art Museum: Located in a Victorian mansion, featuring works by Picasso and Warhol. Mariners Trail: A 13-mile scenic walking/biking trail along Lake Michigan. S.S. Badger Lake Michigan Car Ferry: Connects Manitowoc to Ludington, Michigan. Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center: An interactive agricultural education center. Recreation: Features 36 parks, including swimming beaches (Noda and Red Arrow) and fishing opportunities. Lifestyle: A small-town atmosphere with a growing downtown, riverfront development (River Point District), and active farmer's markets. Economy: A mix of manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture. Name Origin: The name "Manitowoc" is derived from the Algonquian language, likely meaning "abode of the Great Spirit"
Borough of Peapack & Gladstone
Peapack, NJ
Mark Corigliano
Summary for 2026
The Borough of Peapack Gladstone has a long history of farming and maintaining open spaces. It is a small town with a close community dedicated to preserving our bucolic surroundings. The Borough is constantly working to preserve and protect our farmland and open spaces. Taking the Monarch Pledge is a natural step to helping our environment and supporting an important species.
City of Hastings
Hastings, MI
David Tossava
Summary for 2026
The City of Hastings is a rural community of approximately 7500, surrounded by farmland, woodlands, and lakes. We are looking forward to improving the quantity and quality of habitat for native pollinators.
Naturalizing New Hope
New Hope, PA
Frank DeLuca
Summary for 2026
New Hope, Pennsylvania, a borough of roughly 2,600, sits along the Delaware River. Mayor Frank DeLuca has committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators both by signing the Mayors' Monarch Pledge and by personally qualifying his property as a National Wildlife Federation wildlife habitat, as part of the community's Naturalizing New Hope community certification. Mayor DeLuca looks forward to encouraging more and more residents to naturalize their properties, to increase the pollinator population in the borough.
