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'Buzz in the Zoo' replaces No Mow May; Kalamazoo group will run design contest and yard-sign outreach
Summary
A new native-species outreach campaign called 'Buzz in the Zoo' will replace the city's No Mow May branding; organizers plan a student design contest, yard signs and a kickoff event April 24 at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.
Members of the Native Species and Urban Landscapes working group told the Environmental Community Committee they are launching a campaign called "Buzz in the Zoo" to broaden the city’s No Mow May outreach and emphasize native plantings.
Justin Sanders, member, described the plan: "we're gonna have a design contest for elementary school students, middle school students, high school, and college students" and winners will have their designs printed on yard signs to distribute at the April 24 kickoff at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. The effort aims to encourage native plantings and longer seasonal habitat windows rather than simply pausing lawn mowing for a single month.
Committee members discussed whether any local ordinances would limit the approach and cautioned against overly prescriptive rules that name allowable or prohibited plants. Justin said the committee will continue to refine goals and consider whether education or ordinance language is appropriate; no ordinance changes were proposed at the meeting.
The committee also discussed coordinating the campaign with other spring events, including Earth Day and the city’s busy April event calendar. Organizers suggested using the city calendar or a public Google Calendar if a city-hosted option is not available.
No formal action or vote was taken; the working group will draft goals and a short mission statement for committee review and will report back with event details and promotional materials.
