Pelham is now home to a native butterfly garden that will add vibrant color and beauty to the park throughout the seasons.
This new community resource, located outside of the Woodland Park Playground, is a part of the Junior League of Pelham’s (JLP) larger initiative, which included revitalizing and modernizing the playground equipment earlier this year. The project, led by the JLP in collaboration with the Village of Pelham, aims to enhance the village’s environmental sustainability and climate resilience while also promoting community well-being.
“Seeing this garden come to life was a truly rewarding and community-building experience,” said Allison Anderson, Chair of JLP’s Sustainability Project. “This garden is a beautiful testament to what we can achieve when we work together to support local biodiversity and create public spaces that benefit all residents.”
The garden was realized through a fun, collaborative, and educational effort that brought together volunteers and organizations from across the community. This significant collaboration included local partners such as the Village of Pelham Sustainability Advisory Board, the Environmental Coalition of the Pelhams (EcoPel), and the Pelham Girl Scouts and Pelham Boy Scouts.
The garden was professionally designed with native plants and the installation was supervised by Dominique Biondi, a local habitat restoration ecologist and sustainable landscape specialist. The native plants support the park’s ecosystem by providing an essential habitat and nectar sources for native pollinators, including monarch and swallowtail butterflies. Furthermore, their deep root systems help prevent soil erosion and manage stormwater runoff. Because they are adapted to the local climate, native plants require less water and fewer fertilizers and pesticides, making them a more sustainable and cost-effective choice for park maintenance and contributing to the park’s climate resilience.
The butterfly garden will also serve as an outdoor learning space for residents, especially children, to understand the importance of native ecosystems and environmental sustainability. The JLP will be installing educational signage about the garden and initiating other forthcoming projects in the park, including a bioswale, in 2026.
The JLP invites all residents to visit and enjoy this beautiful new community resource, but asks that they refrain from walking on the garden bed as the plants are growing.
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Junior League of Pelham. The Pelham Examiner publishes press releases in the form received as a service to the community.
