City of Wildwood
Wildwood, FL
Ed Wolf
Summary for 2025
Wildwood, FL, is a rapidly growing municipality with a population of more than 30,000 residents, situated approximately 20 miles south of Ocala and 50 miles northwest of Orlando. As growth and development accelerates, the city is committing to conservation of monarchs and pollinators through a multifaceted, cross-departmental approach that will engage local experts and community members to provide habitat crucial to these species.
Town of Bourne
Bourne, MA
Stephanie Fitch
Summary for 2025
The Town of Bourne is a small coastal town. It is considered the gateway to Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The residents of Bourne have shown an interest in pollinator gardens and the Bourne Conservation Department is happy to respond with an investment in more pollinator-friendly landscaping around Town and an education campaign for all residents and landscaping companies in town.
City of Johns Creek
Johns Creek, GA
John Bradberry
Summary for 2025
The City of Johns Creek has a population of 82,000. The city has made great strides in prioritizing sustainability programs in the last three years. Johns Creek Going Green involves examining our current policies and practices for ways to become more sustainable, prioritizing and protecting our natural amenities here in our City, and taking actions today for the next generation of Johns Creek residents. These practices include planting pollinator gardens and trees in several locations and supporting the efforts of our local Nature Preserve.
City of Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls, IA
Danny Laudick
Summary for 2025
Cedar Falls is a city in North East Iowa with a population of roughly 41,000. The City is home to the University of Northern Iowa, one of the three regent universities in the state, and widely recognized for it's endearing mix of bigger city amenities with a small town feel. A nationally recognized downtown and eclectic mix of both urban and rural living lend toward a feeling of home whether you've lived here all your life or are just visiting. But a part of that feeling is only possible because of the balance of city life and natural beauty that Cedar Falls has. Mayor Danny Laudick has committed to ensuring we protect our natural spaces, and part of that commitment includes protecting the native environment and wellbeing of our monarch butterfly and other pollinator species.
City of Greenfield
Greenfield, WI
Michael Neitzke
Summary for 2025
Greenfield, Wisconsin is a suburban city with a population of 37,000 located in Milwaukee County. With a mix of residential neighborhoods, parks, and commercial areas, Greenfield is known for its community-oriented atmosphere and commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Greenfield has made significant strides in pollinator conservation, particularly in support of monarch butterflies. The city is a proud member of the Monarch City & Bee City USA and the Bird City, WI initiatives. All three national movements encouraging municipalities to commit to preserving and enhancing habitat for monarchs and other pollinators. Key elements of Greenfield's conservation efforts include: planting pollinator gardens, educational outreach, community involvement and partnerships with schools, volunteers, and local groups. The city also promotes native plants and reduced pesticide use on public lands, where possible. These efforts show Greenfield’s ongoing dedication to protecting pollinators and promoting biodiversity.
Town of Trenton
Trenton, ME
Fred Ehrlenbach
Summary for 2025
Trenton is a small town of approximately 1,500 people. It is located at the gateway between the nearest metropolitan area of Ellsworth and Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. In 2022 the town signed the Mayor's Monarch Pledge for the first time. Community volunteers planted two small demonstration pollinator gardens, one behind the town office and a second behind the Trenton Elementary School. The Select Board has pledged to help conserve the Monarch butterfly and to encourage its citizens to participate in community activities in relation to pollinator conservation.
City of Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Nancy Vaughan
Summary for 2025
The City of Greensboro resides in the piedmont region of North Carolina with a population of roughly 300,000. Greensboro manages nearly 12,000 acres of parks and open spaces with assets including public gardens, regional and neighborhood parks, beautification areas, over 100 miles of trails and greenways, lakes, several community gardens, and numerous other passive and active recreational amenities and facilities. Through the establishment of multiple pollinator gardens and meadows, the development of educational signage and programming, and the identification of an ongoing need to reduce mowing and increase native habitat, the city has taken steps toward supporting our natural environment. Mayor Vaughan of Greensboro, NC has committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators with the signing of the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge and looks forward to further engaging residents in expanding pollinator habitat throughout the city. Recently the City has enacted policy requiring the use of native plants in new landscape plantings throughout City property while eliminating the use of invasive plants. Current efforts that the City of Greensboro is undertaking to support monarch habitats are the Bird & Butterfly Meadow at Price Park, pollinator gardens at the Keeley Park Community Garden, Wovenworks Park, and the Meeting Place Cornerstone along the Downtown Greenway, a partnership with the Guilford County Extension Master Gardeners to provide environmental education and multiple community partnerships for smaller pollinator gardens in parks. Additional extensive efforts by City of Greensboro involve partnering with Greensboro Beautiful at the Greensboro Arboretum, which includes a formal butterfly garden, a certified Monarch Waystation, interpretive signage specifically dedicated to monarchs, and an Ornamental Grass and Pollinator Meadow. The Pollinator Meadow includes Asclepias among its perennial plantings and features interpretive signage dedicated to broader pollinator preservation. Monarch butterflies have seen a decline in the past 50 years and by informing the public and plants for this species, the Greensboro Science Center plays a critical role in helping save these unique and crucial animals. The Greensboro Science Center is home to three butterfly gardens located throughout the zoo and is the home of the Cole Family Butterfly House and Monarch Conservation Project. The horticulture staff at the Greensboro Science Center maintain the gardens, which contain butterfly loving plants including milkweed. Water from rain collecting barrels help to irrigate the gardens. The Cole Family Butterfly House and Monarch Conservation Project spotlights native butterfly species, with a special emphasis on the iconic, but diminishing, monarch butterfly and creates a lush, verdant garden space that will bring attention to the life and plight of monarch butterflies; serves as another focal-point species to the Greensboro Science Center's Conservation & Research Department; informs the community of the importance of planting milkweed (monarch caterpillars’ sole source of food); creates a fun and dynamic seasonal exhibit filled with native butterflies; and adds a new educational experience focused on pollinators and their importance.
City of Easthampton
Easthampton , MA
Nicole LaChapelle
Summary for 2025
Easthampton, MA, is a small city of 16,000, nestled in Western MA's Pioneer Valley. In the winter of 2023, Easthampton completed a Pollinator Action Plan, outlining key action items for improving and expanding the City's pollinator habitats. In 2024, the City completed a comprehensive Climate Action Plan to inform action steps the City and residents can take toward monarch and pollinator conservation as well as decarbonization efforts. Additionally, in April of 2024 Easthampton was officially designated as a BEE CITY USA Affiliate.
Village of Yellow Springs
Yellow Springs, OH
Pam Conine
Summary for 2025
The Village of Yellow Springs, Ohio, is located in the SW corner of the state. Home of Antioch College, we have a population of 3700, give or take. Located 20 minutes east of Dayton, we are a quick hour west of our state capital, Columbus. Glen Helen, a 1000 acre nature preserve with over 21 miles of hiking trails along with creeks and waterways that feed into the Little Miami Scenic River, runs the length of the village and connects to the Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve and John Bryan State Park. Yellow Springs has a Wildlife Habitat Community public Facebook page with 575 members--check us out! Many villagers are rewilding their properties under the leadership of our village Environmental Commission and at last count, we have over 120 NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat signs that dot village yards, including our two public schools. Mayor Pam is happy to add the Mayors' Monarch Pledge to our village efforts in support of increasing habitats for monarchs and other pollinators.
City of Sanford
Sanford, FL
Art Woodruff
Summary for 2025
Sanford, a charming city in central Florida with a population of 61,051, is nestled along the scenic Lake Monroe, a tributary of the St. Johns River. Boasting over 300 acres of picturesque parks, the city offers residents and visitors a serene escape into nature. Among its many attractions are a vibrant Community Garden and dedicated Monarch Butterfly gardens, highlighting Sanford's status as the 9th designated Monarch City USA in Florida. The city's commitment to preserving pollinators and protecting the Monarch Butterfly population is truly commendable. By encouraging residents to create pollinator habitats throughout the area, Sanford sets an inspiring example of how communities can come together to nurture biodiversity and sustainability.
