Village of Flossmoor
Flossmoor, IL
Michelle Nelson
Summary for 2024
The Village of Flossmoor, a picturesque suburb of Chicago with just under 10,000 residents, is proud to combine its vibrant history with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. Known for its tree-lined streets, historic homes, excellent schools, diverse and inclusive population, extensive sculpture garden, and sprawling parks, Flossmoor is dedicated to advancing green initiatives through its active Green Commission. In 2024, Flossmoor celebrated its Centennial year with events that honored our past while emphasizing the importance of a sustainable future. As part of these celebrations, we distributed over 100 milkweed plants during our summer Chamber Night event, encouraging residents to create pollinator-friendly spaces in their yards. The Village also partnered with Homewood-Flossmoor High School to support its organic garden. The garden features native plants, including milkweed, which provide critical habitats for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. This collaboration fosters biodiversity while offering students hands-on learning opportunities about conservation and sustainable practices. Flossmoor’s ongoing environmental efforts include replacing the village’s tree canopy by planting hundreds of trees annually, hosting an annual recycling event, maintaining a free seed library, discouraging vehicle idling, and using native plantings in newly landscaped public areas. In 2022, the village installed a butterfly garden in a local park and planted over 400 parkway trees with the help of a generous grant and dedicated volunteers. In 2024, the Green Commission, the Mayor, and a local community group expanded the pollinator garden. Mayor Nelson remains committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators, continuing her leadership in signing the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge. The Village looks forward to working closely with the Green Commission and residents to expand pollinator habitats and inspire environmental stewardship throughout Flossmoor.
Town of Black Mountain
Black Mountain , NC
Mike Sobol
Summary for 2024
The town of Black Mountain is along a major fall migration route for the monarch butterfly on their journey South across the Blue Ridge Mountains towards Mexico. We have thousands pass through our town and public parks during last week of September and/or 1st week of October annually. In 2015 we created our 1st Monarch Waystation in a 10 acre field in our Veterans Park that is right along the migration route to make an inviting place for monarchs to stop to fuel up with nectar from native aster and goldenrod on their journey. This field as over 500 common milkweed plants where monarchs also lay eggs April through June each spring and is filled with purple clover which seems to be one of their favorite sources of nectar locally.
Village of Oakwood Hills
Oakwood Hills, IL
Chad Rider
Summary for 2024
The Village of Oakwood HIlls is a small community of approximately 2000 residents. We have a committee of elected officials that are responsible for our local park. Through volunteers there is a butterfly garden located in our park which is regularly maintained.
Nunda Township
Crystal Lake, IL
Mike Shorten
Summary for 2024
Nunda Township is located in northern Illinois with a population of approximately 38,0000. The township has committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators with the signing of the Mayor's Monarch Pledge and looks forward to engaging residents in building more pollinator habitats throughout the city and within the grounds of the township.
City of Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Corey Woods
Summary for 2024
Tempe, Arizona, is about 40 square miles nestled in the greater Phoenix metro area, all within the Sonoran Desert. Tempe is home to about 185,000+ residents, and with those residents, the city has embarked on a multifaceted approach to nurture and encourage monarch butterfly and other pollinator populations. Tempe collaborates with local environmental organizations, ASU, and the community through a variety of interventions, including: educational programs, plantings in public spaces and gardens, and future inclusion in city plans. With unwavering dedication, Tempe serves as a shining example of how urban areas can actively contribute to the conservation of monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
City of Pasadena
Pasadena, CA
Victor M. Gordo
Summary for 2024
The City of Pasadena with nearly 145, 000 residents is a diverse city that borders the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and is not far from downtown Los Angeles. The unique location is both a bustling city and home to a large number of native wildlife. The collision of city life and wildlife is best known in Pasadena as the Wild Urban Interface (WUI.) In 2006 the city adopted a Green and Sustainable Community Action Plan called The Green Action Plan. The plan is popular with residents, business owners, and local non-profits who notoriously take action to help guide the City towards sustainability and environmental commitment. Mayor Victor Gordo has committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators by signing the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. Inline with the current goals The City of Pasadena proudly continues to add native pollinator habitat through community projects supported by Mayor Gordo.
City of Toronto
Toronto, ON
Olivia Chow
Summary for 2024
With the goal of protecting the more than 360 species of bees and more than 100 species of butterflies and other pollinators that call Toronto home, the City of Toronto has adopted a Pollinator Protection Strategy. The Strategy identifies a set of guiding principles, six priorities and 30 actions that the City and community can take to protect our diverse native pollinator community. Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities.
Wabash
Wabash, IN
Scott Long
Summary for 2024
The City of Wabash is taking strides to create an environment attractive to Monarch Butterflies and bees within the entirety of our Park system, and encouraging residents to plant attracting species of plants to sustain Monarch Butterflies and bees.
City of Harker Heights
Harker Heights, TX
Michael Blomquist
Summary for 2024
Harker Heights is a city in central Texas with a population of approximately 34,000. The city is close to the Interstate 35 corridor that roughly follows the path the Monarch’s migrate each year. Being in the path of the Monarch Migration, Mayor Blomquist of Harker Heights has invested in creating a pocket prairie, native pollinator gardens, and education that engages the community to help protect the Monarch Butterfly.
Township of Bloomfield
Bloomfield, NJ
Jenny Mundell
Summary for 2024
Bloomfield, NJ is a diverse suburban community of approximately 55,000 people, located 15 miles west of New York City. Numerous community groups (e.g., Environmental Commission, Greener Bloomfield and Bloomfield Beautification Committee) are working cooperatively with the town administration and Department of Public Works toward increasing the number of pollinator habitats from one end of the town to the other. Gradually, native plants are being introduced to both new and established gardens at various locations (e.g., public library and civic center). The Bloomfield Health Department recently initiated a pollinator garden program to help educate the public and assist community members in establishing native plant gardens in their own yards. The mayor has taken the monarch pledge to recognize those efforts and projects already in place and to encourage the development of additional practices and gardens that will support the monarch butterfly in its lifecycle and annual migration.
