The National Wildlife Federation

Community Profile

Pledge Status

Active

Pledge Date

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Program Year

2023

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Action Item Report

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Village of Mokena

Mokena, IL

Frank Fleischer

Mayor

Pledge Summary

The Village of Mokena, nestled in the northeast corner of Will County, is ideally situated between Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 30 in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Approximately 20,000 residents call the great Village of Mokena their home. Mokena is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors as home to the scenic beauty of the Hickory Creek Forest Preserve and Old Plank Trail. Mayor Frank Fleischer is happy to sign the Mayor's Monarch Pledge to help raise awareness of the decline of monarch butterflies and the species' need for natural habitat.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2023

Communications and Convening

  • Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. (If you have community members who speak a language other than English, we encourage you to also communicate in that language; Champion Pledges must communicate in that language.)
  • Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
  • 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.
  • Create a community art project to enhance and promote monarch and pollinator conservation as well as cultural awareness and recognition.
  • Issue a Proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat.

Program and Demonstration Gardens

  • Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
  • Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
  • Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar producing plants in community gardens.