Keep Champaign Beautiful was a sponsor of the Champaign Park District’s Monarch Summer event held on Sunday, July 9. The event was designed to educate participants on the importance of pollinators in the environment and demonstrate ways they can assist in sustaining the pollinator population. There were about 250 people in attendance. The event began with the screening of two short documentaries at the Virginia Theatre on pollinators. Opening remarks were provided by Councilmember Tom Bruno. Following the screenings, participants were invited to visit vendors on Park Street between Neil and Randolph. Keep Champaign Beautiful provided free Zinnia and pollinator mix seeds along with recycling information and promotional giveaways including reusable shopping bags. The Champaign Park District also provided free Milkweed and Aster plants for participants to take him and incorporate into their gardens. The Milkweed and Aster plants provide the ideal environment for pollinators including the Monarch butterfly. Volunteers also participated in planting one of the parking islands on Park Street with vegetative materials conducive to attracting pollinators. Senior Planner Lacy Raines-Lowe, Environmental Sustainability Specialist Nichole Millage and Code Compliance Manager David Oliver represented Keep Champaign Beautiful at the event.
