The City of Highland Park officially acknowledged NWF’s certification of HP as a Community Wildlife Habitat through a Mayoral Proclamation presented during the City Council meeting on January 27, 2025.
Highland Park Certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat by National Wildlife Federation
What does this honor mean? It signifies that Highland Park has established a network of pollinator-friendly gardens throughout the town and earned over 400 “points” from NWF acknowledging that local gardeners have developed native plant gardens to protect bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and a wealth of other important species. NWF wildlife garden habitats share the following characteristics:
*Native plants and seeds are present and provide food eaten by a variety of wildlife
*Water is available, either through streams or ponds or through birdbaths
*Places to shelter are available in or near the certified gardens
*Safe places to raise young are available in or near the gardens
*Sustainable gardening is practiced by maintaining gardens in natural ways to ensure soil, air, and water stay healthy and clean
Thanks to two grants from the Rotary Club of Highland Park and through collaboration of the Park District of Highland Park, the City of Highland Park, Go Green Highland Park, and the League of Women Voters of Highland Park-Highwood, a grassroots initiative called Habitat Highland Park was born. The group was founded in 2022 to pursue NWF certification.
Participants in the Community Wildlife Habitat initiative landscape and garden with wildlife in mind. They promote the use of native trees and plants, work to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides and chemicals, conserve water, and integrate wildlife-friendly practices into sustainability plans and park master plans. Through the NWF program, communities enhance and restore corridors of wildlife habitat in urban and suburban areas nationwide. At the same time, they can connect to existing local work around climate resiliency, biodiversity, community resiliency, urban forestry, water conservation, and beautification.
Habitat Highland Park will announce an early spring event to celebrate this National Wildlife Federation award. Features will be free native plant seeds, access to experts on native plant landscape design practices, information on the benefits of pollinator-friendly native plant gardening, opportunities for environmental projects in schools and scout troops, and more. The next Highland Park Native Plant Garden Tour — which attracted over 300 visitors in 2024 — will also be announced.
Habitat Highland Park is a grassroots initiative dedicated to obtaining National Wildlife Federation (NWF) recognition and certification of Highland Park as a Community Wildlife Habitat. It is a joint project of Go Green Highland Park and the League of Women Voters of Highland Park-Highwood. You are invited to join us in providing safe and healthy habitats for insects, pollinators, butterflies, and birds in a collective effort to strengthen local biodiversity at all levels and reverse the alarming decline in pollinators in the US. Register your home and Highland Park earns points towards maintaining our NWF Community certification goal. START HERE.
With the blessing of the Highland Park Historical Society, assistance from the Park District of Highland Park, generous funding support from the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood, the Stupey Cabin site was cleared by volunteers starting on May 1, 2022 (Arbor Day Rain Date). Planting one “woodland/shade” and two “sunny” demonstration gardens took place in the weeks following. Thanks to Habitat HP Steering Committee member Chris Wren and Sue Becker for the designs and plant selections you see at left. Pictured: “before” clearing (photo by Anne Loshbough), HP Historical Society President Rob Rotering and Chris Wren (designs by Wren and Becker; photo by Bryna Gamson). (Click on desired image to stop rotation and enlarge.)
You don’t need a whole yard to help pollinators! There are lots of ways to add beauty and habitat to small spaces. This article from Wild Ones was written by Urban Botanist and Scientist at Chicago Botanic Garden, Jeremie Fant, and chronicles his 15 year journey experimenting with Illinois natives …
Interested in learning more? Find information on the community certification program and its benefits at this site. Most properties in our town are capable of meeting the 4 basic elements required for habitat registration. Habitat Highland Park is eager to welcome all residents and organizations interested in participating in this initiative. Register your wildlife habitat here.
Please contact Candice Dalrymple at cdalrymple@jhu.edu to learn how you can join the Habitat Highland Park army!
Habitat Highland Park Steering Committee
The Habitat HP Steering Committee always welcomes new members! Our group meets on Zoom once every 6 weeks to discuss increasing the number of pollinator-friendly gardens in Highland Park. Our goal is to maintain our NWF Community Wildlife Habitat Certification. Steering Committee participation involves sharing ideas to increase pollinator awareness and supporting events that help Highland Parkers learn how to plant and certify pollinator-friendly gardens (even small ones, in pots!).
Native Garden Tour Team
After two highly successful Native Garden Tours we are committed to offering this popular event annually, but we need your help! We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to help us;
If you are interested in learning more please contact: Candice Dalrymple.
