Lexington Fayette Urban County Government
Lexington, KY
Linda Gorton
Summary for 2024
Lexington and Fayette County are located in the Inner Bluegrass Region of Central Kentucky. The Lexington Fayette Urban County Government is a merged city/county government that serves the citizens of this community. Lexington is the 2nd largest city in Kentucky and is considered cultural hub for the region. Agriculture and tourism are key industries to the area as we are known as the Horse Capital of the World and internationally known for the Bourbon produced locally. Without pollinators these industries that are part of the cultural identity of the Bluegrass State wouldn't exist. Lexington hopes to lead the way for our neighbors across the state in promoting and protecting vulnerable pollinator habitat.
City of Dalworthington Gardens
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Laurie Bianco
Summary for 2024
The City of Dalworthington Gardens, Texas is a rural oasis in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The City covers an area of almost 2 square miles and has a population of approximately 2,200. A 43-acre park includes a lake and offers a chance for people to relax and enjoy being in nature. Mayor Bianco of Dalworthington Gardens first took the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge in 2019. Eight action items were pledged to qualify the City as part of the Leadership Circle, a status that we continue to work to maintain to raise awareness in the community and encourage conservation practices to support the monarch butterfly. A garden in Gardens Park was reworked in response to one of the first year’s action items. It now better supports monarch butterflies on their migration and has received designation as a Monarch Waystation.
City of Rochester
Rochester, IN
Trent O'dell
Summary for 2024
Rochester is a city in North Central Indiana with a population of roughly 19,000. The town is surrounded by rural areas and farmland in the early stages of alternative pesticide methods. It is home to beautiful public parks and gardens with an administration focused on community-building innovatives. Mayor O'Dell of Rochester, IN, has committed to saving monarch butterflies and other pollinators with their signing of the Mayors' Monarch Pledge and looks forward to engaging residents in building more pollinator habitats throughout the city.
City of Berwyn
Berwyn, IL
Robert Lovero
Summary for 2024
The City of Berwyn boasts a population of roughly 58,000 and is located west of Chicago. Originally a swampland, Berwyn is now known as the “City of Homes” and has two park districts, including a butterfly garden. The city also has one of the state’s largest Hispanic communities and recognizes the cultural significance that the monarchs hold for Mexican and Mexican American residents. The City of Berwyn is committed to promoting sustainable practices and initiatives that establish a foundation of conservation efforts for monarch butterflies. TRADUCCIÓN AL ESPAÑOL: La Ciudad de Berwyn tiene una población de aproximadamente 58.000 habitantes y está situada al oeste de Chicago. Berwyn, que originalmente era una zona pantanosa, ahora se conoce como la "Ciudad de los Hogares" y tiene dos distritos de parques, incluido un jardín de mariposas. La ciudad también tiene una de las comunidades hispanas más grandes del estado y reconoce la importancia cultural que las monarcas tienen para los residentes mexicanos y mexicoamericanos. La Ciudad de Berwyn está comprometida a promover prácticas e iniciativas sostenibles que establezcan una base para los esfuerzos de conservación de las mariposas monarca.
City of Richland Hills
Richland Hills, TX
Curtis Bergthold
Summary for 2024
The City of Richland Hills is a smallish community in the middle of the Dallas - Ft. Worth Metroplex in North Texas. While our 8,600 count population is drawfed by most of the cities in our immediate area, Richland Hills has a large appetite to promote nature, champion sustainability, and choose conservation whenever possible. Our city is located in both the fall and spring migration routes for monarchs. Therefore, both our elected officials and staff pledge to support migrating Monarchs by establishing and maintaining wildlife areas that support their conservation. Additionally, we will offer programs and education to make sure that our community knows how important pollinator, specifically monarch, conservation is for the future.
Town of Zionsville
Zionsville, IN
John Stehr
Summary for 2024
Zionsville is a town of about 30,000 residents located in Central Indiana. Often called a town within a park, Zionsville has preserved over 700 acres of parks, most left in its natural habitats. Along with preserving and restoring our native wetlands, forest and prairie habitats, Mayor Stehr has committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other native pollinators by signing the Mayor's Monarch Pledge. The Zionsville community looks forward to continuing to build native habitat throughout Zionsville.
City of Sugar Land
Sugar Land, TX
Joe Zimmerman
Summary for 2024
Sugar Land is the largest city in Fort Bend County, located southwest of the Houston metroplex with a population of roughly 120,700. The city has 9 miles of the Brazos River Corridor and is home to more than 2,000 acres of parks and open space. Mayor Joe R. Zimmerman of Sugar Land, TX 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 habitat throughout the city.
BIDDEFORD
BIDDEFORD, ME
Martin Grohman
Summary for 2024
Biddeford is a beautiful city on the Saco River, with miles of coastal beaches, a developed downtown, and rolling farmland. There are 14 public parks and four community gardens in Biddeford. In 2023, the city finalized its Climate Action Plan and will be forming a Sustainability Commission spring of 2024. Since our first Mayors' Monarch Pledge in 2021, we are committed to educating the public about the importance of the Monarch Butterfly by encouraging our citizenry to mow less, reduce or end the use of pesticides and herbicides, and incorporate more native plantings in their gardens. We are increasing education in the schools through garden and arts programming. And we will hold our third annual Spring Pollinator Festival in May.
City of San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Ron Nirenberg
Summary for 2024
The City of San Antonio, Texas is the 7th largest city in the United States. Uniquely situated along the monarch butterfly migration routes, San Antonio has proudly been part of the Mayors' Monarch Pledge since 2015. In 2016, San Antonio was declared the first Monarch Champion City by the National Wildlife Federation after becoming the first city in America to adopt all Champion City action items. With support from the Alamo Area Monarch Collaborative, and other key stakeholders, the City of San Antonio is committed to saving the monarch butterfly by establishing more monarch-friendly habitat across the city and through education and outreach efforts promoting the importance of this incredible pollinator. Together with our local stakeholders and regional partners, San Antonio remains dedicated to monarch and pollinator conservation.
Town of Penfield
Penfield, NY
Jeff Leenhouts
Summary for 2024
The Town of Penfield is located in New York State with a population of just under 40,000. On the outskirts of the City of Rochester Penfield has 10 town owned parks including approximately 390 acres of land. Penfield strives to be a good steward of the environment and has a sustainability committee that focuses on energy and environmental conservation. Deputy Supervisor Drawe and the Penfield Town Board are dedicated to taking initiatives to protect native pollinators, specifically the monarch butterfly, and look forward to continuing to engage with residents through education and protection of pollinator habitat.
