Why did it take a group of citizens coming forward for us to recognize that we should be doing this? This is such common sense. - Irvine, California Mayor Christina Shea, upon passing their organic policy
DOCUMENTS FOR CITIES
Download these sample documents to send to your city council, city manager, and other officials. Use the flyer to share information with other residents and gain support.
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PESTICIDE FREE ZONES AND POLICIES
Municipalities, schools and universities all over the United States are restricting the use of toxic pesticides to protect public health and the environment. Here's a list of some of the more recent pilots, policies and programs popping up around the country. Is your community next?
Arizona
An organic policy, which is patterned on the policy adopted by Irvine, California in 2016, will be phased in a park at a time and the cost will be assessed after a year. Tucson will be the first in the state of Arizona to adopt an organics first policy.
California
- Burbank
CA Homeowners Associations
- Laguna Hills, Moulton Ranch HOA, California
- Talega Maintenance Corporation HOA, San Clemente
- Quail Hill Master HOA, Irvine, California (1,700 homes)
- Linden/Laurel (a Quail Hill sub-HOA) (183 homes)
- Jasmine (also a Quail Hill sub-HOA) (204 homes)
- Laguna Altura (500 homes)
Has fully organic Mutuals and is making efforts to reduce the amount of synthetic chemicals in the landscape site-wide.
Colorado
Boulder City is the first locality in Colorado to pass a comprehensive resolution restricting neonicotinoid use on government-owned property. After the 2016 growing season, no synthetic pesticides will be used for landscaping.In 2017 Parks, Recreation & Open Space stopped using herbicides on city-maintained playgrounds. Staff maintains these areas with mechanical control only. In July 2020 the City Council formally approved an updated IWM plan to restrict the use of some synthetic pesticides like 2,4-D, glyphosate and neonicotinoids.
Connecticut
In 2017 Middletown voted to join several other Connecticut towns that no longer allow toxic pesticides on their municipally owned fields, parks and grounds. Adopted a non-toxic, organic program to control vegetation in 2018. Manage organically maintained edible plant and pollinator gardens as part of their landscaping.
Florida
Starting 2019, pesticides and fertilizers will be banned from being used during the rainy season between June and September. In 2019 city commissioners approved a resolution prohibiting the city and its contractors from using herbicides containing glyphosate, including Roundup. IPM policy that restricts highly toxic pesticides and urges pesticide use as a last resort. The city has asked contractors applying for the city’s landscaping business to use organic fertilizer and herbicides, without increasing costs. In 2019 they became the first organic community in the state of Florida. City commissioners voted to ban city use of the chemical glyphosate in 2018. They have directed staff to create an integrated pest management plan to reduce the use of glyphosate with the ultimate goal of eliminating chemicals. Both cities began a pilot in 2020 using all organic means to maintain two parks in each city.
Georgia
A program that began in 2016 is now a food forest with 2,500 pesticide-free edible and medicinal plants on 7.1 acres of land in the Browns Mill neighborhood of southeast Atlanta. The property is owned by the Parks Department and relies on volunteers to help with maintenance. This is the nations largest free food forest.
Hawaii
County Council passed a bill banning the county’s use of herbicides on public property - the first local government in the state to do so.Four county parks launched a pesticide free pilot in 2017 - War Memorial Little League Field in Wailuku, the Luana Gardens playing fields in Kahului, Makana Park in Kuau and the South Maui Community Park in Kihei.
Idaho
Pesticide free pilot program at Lillian Woodworth Otness Park adopted 2018 along with Almon Asbury Lieuallen Park.In 2020, the Parks and Recreation Department begins a two-year pilot program to reduce the amount of pesticides sprayed in select city parks.
Illinois
As of 2019, 30 acres of green space will no longer be sprayed with harmful pesticides. Plans are underway to transition fertilization of all parks to organic by 2020. Restricts use of toxic pesticides on public property in favor of alternative, organic methods. Resolution promoting an IPM policy that restricts highly toxic pesticides and urges pesticide use as a last resort. Four parks began a pesticide free program beginning in 2019. The 2017-2019 Sustainable Parks Initiative will include all playgrounds and eight park locations that will be maintained using organic products and sustainable practices. The eight parks encompass 75 acres. The City of Urbana and the Urbana Park District have just adopted a new lawn care initiative called "Midwest Grows Green," which will include the elimination of all synthetic pesticides on the city building's lawn, as well as reductions at all Urbana parks.
Iowa
Story County Conservation to eliminate the use of chemical pesticides in six of its mowed turf areas. There will be 42 acres of pesticide-free turf in total.
Kansas
Pesticide free parks.
City Commissioners discontinued a mosquito spraying program in 2018 due to resident's input.
City Commissioners discontinued a mosquito spraying program in 2018 due to resident's input.
Maine
In November 2020, 1,412 people voted to pass the pesticide-free ordinance, winning the vote with nearly a 3-1 margin.
In 2018 the city of Ellsworth contracted with an organic lawn care company in direct response to a Green Plan submission regarding the hazards of pesticides and herbicides. In 2014 a ballot initiative passed to ban toxic pesticide use on lawns and landscapes within the town’s jurisdiction. Portland City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides for outdoor pest management on public and private property in 2018. Scarborough Town Council enacted a policy in 2011 to ban the use of certain synthetic pesticides on town property. In 2016 became the largest community in Maine to enact a ban on pesticides.
In 2018 the city of Ellsworth contracted with an organic lawn care company in direct response to a Green Plan submission regarding the hazards of pesticides and herbicides. In 2014 a ballot initiative passed to ban toxic pesticide use on lawns and landscapes within the town’s jurisdiction. Portland City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides for outdoor pest management on public and private property in 2018. Scarborough Town Council enacted a policy in 2011 to ban the use of certain synthetic pesticides on town property. In 2016 became the largest community in Maine to enact a ban on pesticides.
Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland City Council passed an ordinance in 2020 restricting the use of toxic pesticides (neonicotinoids, glyphosate, chlorpyrifos) on public and private property—including lawns, playing fields, playgrounds, and children’s facilities. Voted to adopt Montgomery County's ordinance in August 2020. The law goes into effect December 1st 2020. Since 2010, all 300 acres have been maintained using organic landscaping practices. Montgomery County banned the use of pesticides on residential lawns in 2015 -- the strongest regulation of lawn pesticides in the country. The ban was challenged by the pesticide industry who seek to remove the right to local control of pesticides. In 2019, the county wide law was upheld by the state's highest court. As of the same year, the county has 45 pesticide free parks. Voted to adopt the county law in 2017. The Takoma Park, Maryland City Council on July 22, 2013 unanimously passed the Safe Grow Act of 2013, which generally restricts the use of cosmetic lawn pesticides on both private and public property throughout the Maryland city. Voted in 2020 to amend a town article to incorporate Montgomery County law banning the use of certain registered pesticides on lawns by commercial companies and individuals on private property to also apply in the town of Washington Grove.
Massachusetts
The Conservancy is committed to using organic practices.Virtually all of Cambridge’s fields transitioned to organic practices “at least” 10 years ago. They started a new pilot site in 2020. The cemetery staff has confirmed with us that they use only organic maintenance practices on their grounds. Harvard has a fully organic grounds management program.The town of Lynnfield will convert the town common to organic maintenance in Spring 2021.
- Natick
Springfield, Massachusetts City Parks and Buildings Director Patrick J. Sullivan (left) was honored with a lifetime achievement environmental merit award from the U.S. EPA. He credits Mayor Domenic J. Sarno (right) for supporting “Going Green” initiatives and staff for their focus on environmental protection. Sullivan said he is perhaps most proud of the organic lawn care program in the city. Photo by Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican. Click picture to read the full news report.
Minnesota
The City began converting underused turf grass areas to pesticide-free prairie habitat in 2020. The City has a pesticide free parks pilot program.
New Hampshire
The City Council voted unanimously for a commitment to organic land management practices resolution in 2018. Dover uses steam for curbside weed control. The City also uses organic practices for turf grass on all city owned property.Since 2019, the home of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats is the first to be organically managed in all of professional baseball. The City Council voted overwhelmingly to adopt the state’s first ban on toxic pesticides by a municipality in 2017. Instead, the city will use organic products on city sidewalks and in city parks. In 2019, they began using a compost tea machine to enrich the health of their soil.
New Jersey
In 2008 Bernards Township, NJ adopted an Integrated Pest Management Resolution covering all township owned property. The policy utilizes organic lawn care practices allowing for the elimination of synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilizer on all sports fields and key lawn areas, and it designates all parks as Pesticide Free Zones
- Chatham
New York
Hemlock, Edgemere, Tullamore, Nassau Haven and Grove Park are pesticide free - no neighborhood park in Garden City will have its grounds treated with pesticide as of 2020.In 2020 unanimously voted in an IPM plan that restricts use of synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.
Nevada
Pesticide free parks throughout the city.
Ohio
The village has managed its more than 200 acres of property in and around town without the use of chemical pesticides since 2013.
Banned pesticides like Roundup on city-owned land.
Banned pesticides on public land in 1995.Has a local ordinance that prohibits the use of pesticides on county-owned land. They also have an Integrated Pest Management program.
Banned pesticides like Roundup on city-owned land.
Banned pesticides on public land in 1995.Has a local ordinance that prohibits the use of pesticides on county-owned land. They also have an Integrated Pest Management program.
Oregon
The city has 10 pesticide free neighborhood parks. Laurelwood Golf Course has transitioned away from chemical dependent practices and adopted an organic approach as well. There are several pesticide free parks in the city.The city is making a transition to organic park management beginning with a pilot program.
The city is a part of a three-year pilot project to transition to organic park management.
The city is a part of a three-year pilot project to transition to organic park management.
Pennsylvania
Beginning in July, 2021 the Department of Parks and Recreation will be required to report pesticide use publicly. In 18 months from passage, the law will prohibit certain toxic chemicals on all city property except golf courses and athletic fields, which must comply by the end of 2022. The city must also develop an organic land management plan that includes regular soil testing and selection of planting. Seven parks will use organic and/or natural landscaping without the usage of chemical fertilizer and pesticides.The Borough has stopped using Roundup in all public places in response to citizen concerns.
South Carolina
The Town of Kiawah is prohibited by state law from regulating the use of rodenticides. In 2020, town council passed a resolution calling on residents and businesses to voluntarily comply and use non-toxic methods instead.
Washington
Pesticide free parks program. A restriction on glyphosate in 2019 is the latest in the City’s work to significantly reduce its use of pesticides since the 70s, including adopting a ban 10 years ago on the use of pesticides at over 250 playfields, picnic areas, community gardens, and play areas. In 2014 Seattle City Council voted to ban the purchase and use of neonicotinoids on the City's property. Seattle currently has 22 pesticide-free parks.
