Hillsborough Parks and Recreation - (Hillsborough, NJ)

Mayors Monarch Pledge

2025 Mayors Monarch Pledge

The Mayors’ Monarch Pledge program launched in 2015 to engage cities and communities in monarch and pollinator conservation. Between 2015 and 2020, the program welcomed over 600 mayors and heads of local and tribal government who engaged 6 million people and restored more than 6,500 acres of monarch habitat. Since the monarch's migration spans the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the pledge expanded to these countries through new tri-national partnerships in 2017. This was Hillsborough's first time participating in the challenge, though we plan to continue this effort as we move forward continuing the beautifucation of parks and projects focusing on saving the monarch butterflies.

Hillsborough Township, located in Somerset Country, is centrally located in the state of New Jersey with a population near 50,000. Hillsborough spans over 50 square miles and offers over 15 public parks through the municipality. Mayor Ciccarelli and the Township Committee have committed to supporting the Mayors Monarch pledge through action item projects accomplished throughout the town. Hillsborough's plans include to not only continue the beautification of its parks, but to also provide natural habitats for the monarch butterflies throughout the community. Keep an eye out for additional monarch and pollinator information throughout the year!

Spring of 2025, Mayor John Ciccarelli took the Monarch Mayors' Pledge, an initiative to plant butterfly-friendly plants in hopes of helping to grow the dwindling Monarch butterfly population. In April, Mayor Ciccarelli and Neshanic Garden President Jim Buschong planted an ecology garden including essential milkweed in front of the Police Department.

Mayor John Ciccarelli continued to honor his Monarch Mayor's Pledge at Ann Van Middlesworth Park where he was joined by members of the Parks and Recreation Department and also and Neshanic Garden President Jim Buschong, as they planted an ecology garden. The garden includes bee balm to attract pollinators including hummingbirds and butterflies, and milkweed which is essential to growing the dwindling monarch butterfly population.

Jim Bushong, Neshanic Garden Club President held an informative planting demonstration at Ann Van Middlesworth Park. Check out the video for some planting tips and tricks!

60 Minutes on CBS aired a clip on April 20, 2025 called "Inside the monarch butterfly migration mystery: flying to Mexico from Canada, the U.S." Check out the video below to learn more. Credit: ©CBS/Paramount

Jim Bushong give some great planting tips and tricks to maximize your flowering potential and growth!