Minnetonka Beach
Minnetonka Beach, MN
Joe Pagano
Summary for 2025
The City of the Village of Minnetonka Beach is a special lake community located in the western suburbs of Minneapolis. Surrounded by Minnesota's 9th largest lake, Lake Minnetonka, covering 14,528 acres, the City has a quaint village feel and is rich in history. With a strong commitment to the protection of City parks and public lands, the City Council and Park Commission fully supports initiatives that provide an ecosystem for beneficial insects and wildlife. The City is renewing the Mayor's Monarch Pledge for 2025 to further engage our community and residents in building more pollinator-friendly habits throughout the Village. Monarch Pledge educational messaging will continue to be generated to residents via the City's newsletter, email blasts, educational signage, and mailing inserts. The Park Commission is engaged in promoting sustainable, pollinator-friendly gardens, organic lawncare, and selective mowing. Milkweed and nectar planting will continue to be encouraged both in public spaces and with residents own landscapes. The City's monarch and pollinator-friendly garden is in its third year of establishment at Lafayette Park complete with a beautiful pollinator garden educational sign for trail walkers to see at the garden's edge. As a community engagement effort, packets of Asclepias tuberosa seeds were distributed to residents for their own gardens with detailed planting instructions. Additional native milkweed and pollinator plantings have been added and maintained at the Swim Beach Park Garden. A new educational, podium style sign about protecting shoreline habitat was created for the Swim Beach Park shoreline where the extensive native plants are. Minnetonka Beach City Hall has seen the addition of monarch and pollinator-friendly plants as well. Plans are also underway to add native plants at the City's northern shoreline of Lake Minnetonka as part of a shoreline restoration project. As a former Park Commission Chair, Mayor Pagano fully endorses continued efforts to raise awareness of the continued decreased population of the western monarch butterfly. Education and project initiatives in Minnetonka Beach will continue to provide vital habitat to assist in saving the monarch butterfly.
Village of Mokena
Mokena, IL
George Metanias
Summary for 2025
The Village of Mokena is a south suburb of Chicago in Will County with a population of roughly 20,000. The Village takes great pride in maintaining the monarch butterfly population by implementing a wildflower field in vacant lots. This ensures monarch butterflies and other pollinators have a safe place within our community. Mayor Fleischer of Mokena, Illinois has committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators with their signing of the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge and looks forward to engaging residents in building more pollinator habitats throughout the Village.
City of Champaign
Champaign, IL
Deborah Feinen
Summary for 2025
The City of Champaign is a community of over 90,000 residents in east-central Illinois. Along with the neighboring City of Urbana, it is home to the University of Illinois. The Mayor's Monarch Pledge began in Champaign in 2016. Mayor Deb Feinen signed a Proclamation declaring May as Monarch Conservation Month in the City of Champaign. Mayor Feinen and the Champaign City Council enacted Council goals that encourage and emphasize native habitat and green infrastructure. Landscaped areas maintained by the City of Champaign are being installed, or converted, to pollinator friendly perennial plants whenever the opportunity arises. These plantings can provide a model for other residential and commercial properties looking for ways to incorporate these vital plants.
City of Los Angeles
Los Angeles , CA
Karen Bass
Summary for 2025
Despite its reputation as a sprawling metropolis, the City of Los Angeles is located within one of 36 globally recognized biodiversity hotspots. Los Angeles is a biodiversity jewel, teeming with rare and iconic species, including the monarch butterfly. By signing the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, Mayor Bass has committed to creating habitat for the monarch butterfly and other pollinator species throughout the City. The City of Los Angeles is excited to advance the initiatives outlined in this pledge by planting native milkweed and other pollinator-friendly nectar plants in medians, to train landscape staff to use pollinator-friendly practices, and to initiate community science efforts that help monitor monarch health.
Township of Allamuchy
Allamuchy, NJ
Rosemary Tuohy
Summary for 2025
Allamuchy Township is actively promoting monarch and pollinator conservation through community engagement and public initiatives. As part of this commitment, the township is hosting a mural contest to transform the Green Acres concession stand into a vibrant piece of public art that highlights monarch and pollinator conservation, while also celebrating cultural awareness. On March 26, 2025, the Township Committee issued an official proclamation in support of monarch butterfly preservation, March 27th, 2025 has now been deemed Monarch Butterfly Awareness Day for Allamuchy Township. Efforts are ongoing in the Rutherfurd Community Gardens, where milkweed and nectar-producing plants are being maintained to support pollinator habitats. Residents are also encouraged to plant these beneficial species on their own properties to further expand local pollinator-friendly spaces.
Village of Richmond
Richmond, IL
Toni Wardanian
Summary for 2025
Richmond is a village in McHenry County (Northeastern Illinois) with a population of 2,089. The high quality North Branch of Nippersink Creek and the recreational Prairie Trail run through the village which also has a number of public parks. Richmond is also the gateway community to the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. Village President Toni Wardanian has committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators by signing the Mayors' Monarch Pledge and looks forward to engaging residents in building more pollinator habitat throughout the village.
Crystal Lake Park District
Crystal Lake, IL
Jason Herbster
Summary for 2025
Charged with providing park and recreation services for approximately 55,000 residents, the Crystal Lake Park District system includes 42 parks spanning over 1,400 acres and program offerings of over 1,000 annually. Facilities include the Nature Center, Main and West Beaches, Colonel Palmer House, Lippold Family Golf Center, Boncosky Softball Complex at Lippold Park, Grand Oaks Recreation/Active Adult Center, the Racket Club, Barlina House Preschool, and numerous picnic shelters. In addition to parks, facilities and programs, the district maintains miles of bike and hiking trails enjoyed by many throughout the year.
City of Goleta
Goleta, CA
Paula Perotte
Summary for 2025
The City of Goleta is a beautiful coastal community of about 30,000 people located in Santa Barbara County, California. The monarch butterfly played an important role in the City's early history as a landmark conservation deal saved the Goleta Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa from development in 2004. Today, Goleta is undertaking the largest monarch butterfly habitat stewardship project in the state, featuring hundreds of community volunteers installing thousands of nectaring native plants and new trees. Our City is 100% committed to saving our iconic monarch butterfly through habitat improvements, educational programs, and public policy.
City of Boerne
Boerne, TX
Frank Ritchie
Summary for 2025
Boerne, the county seat of Kendall County, is among the fastest growing and most desirable places to live in the nation, known for its historical charm, scenic Hill Country landscape, vibrant parks, and award-winning community services. With a population of approximately 22,000, Boerne is located 30 miles northwest of San Antonio, the seventh-largest city in the U.S. Positioned on the southern edge of the Edwards Plateau, the area is rich in both natural and cultural resources. The City of Boerne and Kendall County actively collaborate with various conservation-focused organizations, land trusts, and volunteer groups to educate, promote, and implement programs that support native species diversity. These partnerships have led to the protection and enhancement of habitats for native plants and pollinators, contributing to the ecological richness of this biologically diverse region.
City of Allentown
Allentown, PA
Matt Tuerk
Summary for 2025
TBD
