The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

Main menu

STAY CONNECTED

Oak Park working to save the monarchs

May 15, 2023 – The Village of Oak Park is doing its part to help save the monarch butterfly, an iconic North American species whose populations have declined dramatically in recent years.

Village officials have joined hundreds of communities across the country in signing the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge to create a healthy habitat that will aid monarch butterflies on their annual migration across the continent.

In addition to issuing a proclamation to raise awareness of the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat, the Village is continuing its practice of planting native milkweed and nectar plants on public properties when appropriate across the community, including traffic diverters, cul-de-sacs, medians and planters, as a way of offering monarch-friendly vegetation.

The Village's Public Works Center is also home to a certified monarch butterfly waystation.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, monarch butterflies numbered around 1 billion in 1996. Today, their numbers have declined significantly as a result of numerous threats, particularly the loss of habitat due to cropland conversion, urban development, and agricultural practices.

As part of its pledge, the Village has committed to promoting the planting of monarch gardens throughout the community, maintaining its pollinator garden at the Public Works Center and updating ordinances, including those related to lawn maintenance mowing and use of chemicals.

Oak Park residents can make a difference, too, by planting native milkweed and nectar plants on their property to provide habitat for pollinators like the monarch butterfly. Milkweed can spread aggressively, so residents are encouraged to plant with care.

Tips on how to create a monarch garden are available at the following links:

For more information about the Village’s Monarch Pledge, visit www.oak-park.us/monarchpledge, call 708.358.5770 or email sustainability@oak-park.us.