The Mayors' Monarch Pledge program is led by the National Wildlife Federation and focuses on efforts to sustain monarch butterfly and pollinator habitats. Mayor Haleblian accepted the 2024 pledge and Crystal Lake will be pursuing action items throughout the year. The Mayors' Monarch Pledge is an important effort for the City and the community to protect monarch butterfly and other pollinator habitats. 

Program Action Items

The City will be pursuing seven (7) action items in support of the Mayors' Monarch Pledge. Some of the action items include the following: 

1. Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. 

2. Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants. 

3. Engage with Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Community Associations, or neighborhood organizations to identify opportunities to plant monarch gardens and revise maintenance and mowing programs. 

4. Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway, or swap. 

5. Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in community gardens. 

6. Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs, and trees that must be used in City landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate. 

7. Launch, expand, or continue an effort to change municipal planting ordinances and practices to include more native milkweed and native nectar-producing plants at City properties. 

Action Item Progress

The City will report the progress of efforts towards each action item as set forth in the Mayor's Monarch Pledge. Below is the current progress for each action item.

1. Information regarding pollinator seeding conducive for monarch butterflies and other pollinators can be found below on this page. The City will also promote the Monarch Pledge and information regarding pollinator seeding in the City newsletter. 

2. The City's Sustainability Committee will provide native seed packets along with educational materials at the September Johnny Appleseed festival. 

3. The City currently contracts with a natural areas maintenance company to perform invasive species removal and natural vegetation maintenance. The City will evaluate additional seeding for pollinators and monarch butterflies at appropriate areas. 

Getting Involved

Crystal Lake residents can help the Monarch butterfly and other pollinators through planting pollinator seeds in their gardens or yards. Any native Milkweed (such as Asclepias Tuberosa), Coneflower, Native Asters, and Goldenrods are just a few plant seeds that help butterflies and other pollinators.