Moon Township
Moon, PA
David Bachman
Summary for 2025
Moon Township is a suburb of Pittsburgh in Western Pennsylvania. The Township is home to a population of approximately 27,000 people. Moon Township has a long standing tradition of investment in public parks and open space. The Township has three landmark parks that feature over 600 acres of open space and over 15 miles of hiking trails. In 2019 the Township began converting open areas of both Robin Hill Park and Moon Park into no-mow wildflower meadows. These meadows have been planted with a special blend of native wildflowers and grasses specifically for pollinators. The Township continues to work to expand our native and pollinator plantings in our public spaces annually reviewing addition opportunities for plantings.
City of Watertown
Watertown, MA
George Proakis
Summary for 2025
Watertown is a city in the greater Boston area with a population of just over 35,000. Our community, though highly urbanized, boasts important natural resources, from protected open space along the Charles River to our growing number of pocket parks and community gardens. City Manager George Proakis has committed to protecting and promoting pollinator species such as the monarch butterfly by signing the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge and looks forward to engaging residents, businesses, and neighborhood groups on the importance of providing pollinator habitat throughout the city.
City of Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, ON
David West
Summary for 2025
The City of Richmond Hill is a city located in southern Ontario. With a population of approximately 200,000, Richmond Hill is a lower tier municipality in York Region with portions of the City falling within Ontario's Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine. The City has committed to foster natural and built communities that support pollinators through the Environment Strategy and partnerships with non-profit organizations and designations.
Town of Carrboro
Carrboro, NC
Barbara Foushee
Summary for 2025
Carrboro is a progressive, vibrant community located in the Piedmont region of central North Carolina. Over 20,000 diverse residents call Carrboro home. In 2014, the Town of Carrboro stated its intention to promote healthy, sustainable habitats for pollinators by becoming the third municipality in the country to join the Bee City USA initiative. The Town recognizes the importance of avoiding and minimizing impacts of municipal operations on pollinators and other species, has been working to support and protect environmental features for over 40 years, and has been pursuing a Least Toxic Integrated Pest Management Policy since the 1990s. The Town has also committed to protecting and enhancing native ecosystems through its 2017 Community Climate Action Plan and 2022 Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Barbara Foushee has signed the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge to reaffirm the Town’s commitment to the environment and engage residents in creating and enhancing pollinator habitat throughout the community.
City of St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Cara Spencer
Summary for 2025
The City of St. Louis is located on the eastern border of Missouri along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. This location is a natural byway for Monarch butterfly migration. In 2014, St. Louis began its Milkweeds for Monarchs initiative and has established well over 400 green spaces with milkweed and nectar sources to support the Monarch and other pollinators. Mayor Tishaura O. Jones continues the City’s important efforts to support pollinators and connect residents with nature. Monarch and pollinator gardens will continue to be established and maintained along greenways, in city parks, neighborhoods, schools and at homes across St. Louis.
Cheltenham Township
Elkins Park, PA
Alyson Elliott
Summary for 2025
Cheltenham Township is a first-ring suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a population of close to 38,000. Its 9-square-mile community boasts 23 parks and open spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy. Cheltenham Township adopted a Sustainability Plan in 2013, one of the goals of which is Ecological Stewardship. Cheltenham is taking the Monarch Pledge for the fourth year in 2025 to include cultivating the existing and adding more monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration gardens, continuing public communication efforts to encourage citizens to plant monarch gardens at their homes or neighborhoods, hosting a Monarch Butterfly Festival, and reviewing Township ordinances, regulations and practices. The Township's efforts are collaborative by the partnership of community organizations and resident volunteers, including through the Cheltenham Township Library System, the Township's Environmental Advisory Council, and parks Friends.
City of Richland Hills
Richland Hills, TX
Curtis Bergthold
Summary for 2025
Richland Hills is a welcoming and vibrant community located in the heart of North Texas. Known for its small-town charm and strong sense of community, Richland Hills is committed to preserving and enhancing the natural environment for current and future generations. As part of this commitment, the city has taken active steps to support monarch butterflies, bees, and other vital pollinators. Through native plant landscaping, educational programs, and the creation of pollinator-friendly habitats in parks and public spaces, Richland Hills is proud to be part of the nationwide effort to protect and conserve essential pollinator species.
City of Salem
Salem, OR
Julie Hoy
Summary for 2025
The City of Salem, located in the heart of the lush Willamette River Valley, is the state capital of Oregon, government seat of Marion County, and the state's third largest city. Salem's landscape is characterized by a mix of rich valley farmland and orchards, rolling hills, mixed forests, the Willamette River, many creeks and wetlands, numerous parks and natural areas, and a growing urban community. Salem first took the Mayors Monarch Pledge in 2017, joining other cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico to take action to help save the monarch butterfly. We have renewed our pledge annually since then, and 2025 is no exception. Salem’s Mayor, Julie Hoy, is renewing the City's commitment to increasing monarch and pollinator habitat throughout the City of Salem and encouraging the public to do the same.
City of Palm Desert
Palm Desert , CA
Jan Harnik
Summary for 2025
The City of Palm Desert, located in the heart of California's Coachella Valley, is a vibrant community known for its diverse population, 365 days of sunshine, and a population of approximately 53,000. Palm Desert offers a wealth of outdoor activities, including beautiful parks, community gardens, and other recreational spaces. It is also home to The Living Desert Zoo & Botanical Gardens, a leader in environmental sustainability and species conservation, including the preservation of desert plants and animals, such as butterflies. Mayor Jan Harnik of Palm Desert has committed to protecting the monarch butterfly and other pollinators by signing the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge. She looks forward to continuing the City’s partnership with The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens to engage residents in creating additional pollinator habitats across the city.
Village of River Forest
River Forest, IL
Catherine Adduci
Summary for 2025
The Village of River Forest is home to roughly 11,717 residents. It is situated approximately 10 miles west of the City of Chicago, with easy access to public transportation. For more than 140 years, River Forest has remained an attractive community with rich architecture, beautiful homes and friendly residents who take pride in calling it their home. The Village is committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators with their signing of the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge. Through the work of the Village's Sustainability Commission, we look forward to building more pollinator habitats throughout the community, including engaging with residents on ways they can help monarch butterflies through their own actions.
