Deerfield Township Service Department - Parks & Recreation
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Monarch Pledge

Photo of a monarch butterfly sitting on an orange and yellow flower.
On April 6, 2021 the Deerfield Township Board of Trustees approved a proclamation for Mayors' Monarch Pledge Day.

This pledge is a commitment to encourage the community to plant milkweed, encourage neighborhoods to plant monarch gardens, continue invasive species removal, and encourage all residents to participate in community activities that support and celebrate monarch conservation.

What is the project timeline?
  • This is an annual commitment. 2022 Pledge action items include the following:
  • Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar producing plants in community gardens
  • Continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitats for monarch butterflies and other pollinators
  • Engage with parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs
  • Engage with gardening leaders and partners (e.g., Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Nature Centers, Native Plant Society Chapters , other long-standing and influential community leaders) to support monarch butterfly conservation

Where exactly will this project take place?
  • Work done to support this initiative varies and may be visible in park projects, incorporated into recreation programming, completed "behind the scenes", etc.
  • Proclamation: Click here to see the Proclamation for the Mayors' Monarch Pledge Day.
  • Kingswood Park: You can see visible progress in the Pollinator Pathway installed in 2020 and the on-going invasive species removal.

How is the project funded?
  • Funding varies depending on the component of the project, which may utilize Park Levy and/or various grant funding
  • Many components also include the work of volunteers
  • Please see the individual Park Project pages for funding details on specific components

What is the benefit of this project to the community?
  • Improve local ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Improve soil and air quality
  • Foster healthy connections between humans and wildlife

Where can I learn more about monarch butterflies?
  • See below under the "Links" section for educational resources.
  • Butterfly themes are also intentionally incorporated into Deerfield Recreation programs to provide opportunities to engage with the community and raise awareness.
  • June Chalk the Walk: Kingswood Park theme for 2022 "Butterflies Fly"
  • June Living Storywalk at Kingswood Park
  • July Fairy/Gnome Trails: Kingswood Park theme for 2022 "Monarch Fairy Fields"
  • October Fall Prairie Walk at Kingswood Park (more details to come!)

What is the status of this project?
  • March 17, 2021: NWF Mayors' Monarch Pledge signed by Kristin Malhotra
  • April 6, 2021: Proclamation for Mayors' Monarch Pledge approved by Board of Trustees and signed by Kristin Malhotra
  • 2021 Project Report was submitted to the National Wildlife Foundation. The Township is intending to renew for 2022 and is currently developing project goals for this year.
  • On-Going: Invasive plant species removal and maintenance at Kingswood Park, Pollinator Pathway garden maintenance at Kingswood Park