Community Profile

City of Lincoln

Lincoln, NE

Leirion Gaylor Baird

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Monarch pledge The City of Lincoln is located in the heart of America and is the capital city of the state of Nebraska as well as the county seat of Lancaster County. As one of the top 10 college towns in the country, Lincoln covers 101.65 square miles with a population of just over 290,000 and is the second largest city in Nebraska. Lincoln has an impressive community wide parks and recreation system that includes 128 parks, 85 playgrounds, 134 miles of trails, 10 pools, 5 recreation centers, and 5 public golf courses. Amenities like these are vital for our community's health, safety, quality of life, and economic prosperity. Lincoln is committed the preservation of precious ecosystems and native habitats that protect the monarch butterfly and other pollinators.

Community Spotlight

Preservation of 40 acres of prairie

We were able to purchase a 40 acre parcel with about 18 acres of high diversity native planting An additional 13 acres of pasture will be rehabilitated to prairie and additional diversification of the seeding will continue.

Action Items Committed for 2023

Communications and Convening ▸

Issue a Proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat.
Engage with Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Community Associations or neighborhood organizations to identify opportunities to plant monarch gardens and revise maintenance and mowing 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.
Engage with city 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 community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.
Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitats for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
Initiate or support community science (or citizen science) efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.
Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
Facilitate or support a milkweed seed collection and propagation effort.

Systems Change ▸

Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.
Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.
Remove milkweed from the list of noxious plants in city weed / landscaping ordinances (if applicable).

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird	2023	3/17/2023		View Pledge
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird	2022	5/3/2022	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird	2021	4/9/2021	Leadership Circle	View Pledge

The National Wildlife Federation

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report