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Evansville becomes Bee City USA affiliate; council approves pollinator resolution
Summary
The Common Council unanimously adopted Resolution C-2025-25 designating Evansville a Bee City USA affiliate to promote pollinator habitat, reduce pesticide use and expand education and partnerships.
The Evansville Common Council on Sept. 22 adopted Resolution C-2025-25 designating the city as a Bee City USA affiliate, a program of the Xerces Society to promote pollinator conservation.
Speakers from local nonprofits and parks staff described existing pollinator projects and said the Bee City affiliation would provide a framework to coordinate work across departments, neighborhood groups and businesses. Nick Yaccarino, executive director of Keep Evansville Beautiful, described the initiative as a chance to "promote pollinators and native plants across this community," citing park plantings and outreach as ongoing examples.
Edith Hardcastle, who said she lives at 1617 Baird Park, summarized the Bee City USA approach: "Bee City is not a mandate. It's just a celebration of what we're already doing and a roadmap for what we can do next." Paul Balsman, deputy director of Evansville Parks and Recreation, said the parks department is "willing, but very excited to be the city sponsor" for the program and listed several existing native-plant and prairie projects.
Council members voted 8-0 by roll call to adopt the resolution. The resolution notes that local changes already undertaken — for example, a weed-ordinance update to allow native plantings — would be credited under the Bee City framework, and it calls for continued collaboration among city departments, nonprofit partners and schools to expand habitat, reduce pesticide use and provide public education.
