Sixth Annual Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz Celebrates Pollinators Across the Country


By Rukmini Kalamangalam | Posted on October 23, 2024

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Pictured: A BioBlitz observation from Phoenixville Borough Recreation Department in Pennsylvania.

This past September, NRPA’s sixth annual Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz was a celebration of nature, community and the vital role parks play in protecting biodiversity. Nearly 100 organizations — from zoos and museums to local and state parks departments — came together to observe and document the incredible species that thrive in our communities. With events held across 35 states, from Arizona to New York, the impact was felt nationwide. 

Across the country, 4,850 observers made 44,972 observations, documenting 5,685 species of flora and fauna. The most identified pollinators were bees and butterflies, including Huron Sachem, monarchs and the eastern bumble bee. If you would like to check out what species were found or where projects were held, visit the iNaturalist project to see the regional iNaturalist pages with all our participating agencies and organizations. 

Agencies that participate in the BioBlitz reap a wide variety of benefits, including community engagement and supporting community science. Agencies noted that social media posts about the BioBlitz were a great vehicle to teach about pollinators, and that participants who came to in-person BioBlitz events were excited to learn more about increasing biodiversity. To learn more about how agencies are engaging with the public around the BioBlitz, check out our Planning Hub Call here. Several agencies noted that participation in the Bioblitz went up from previous years, with one agency noting their participation quadrupled! 

Those who hosted a BioBlitz event in September had the chance to win one of three $1,000 prizes or one of three Scotts Miracle-Gro prize packs, to help with pollinator habitats or programs. The story of one agency’s big win — and what they did with the money — can be found here. 

Congratulations to all our winners this year! 

The three winners of the $1,000 prizes are:  

  • City of Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, Texas  
  • Phoenixville Borough Recreation Department, Pennsylvania 
  • Raritan Township Environmental Commission and Green Team, New Jersey. 

The three Scotts Miracle-Gro prize pack winners are: 

  • City of Doral Parks and Recreation, Florida 
  • Crawford County Conservation District of Kansas 
  • Cedar Hill Parks and Recreation, Texas. 

Thank you to everyone who participated and hosted events in their communities. NRPA will be collecting stories, images and feedback from everyone who signed up for our 2024 BioBlitz. Please send us your best stuff — we would love to share your stories! We hope to see even more of you join us in a future Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz. 

The Parks for Pollinators campaign, hosted through a partnership between the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, aims to raise public awareness of the pollinator crisis and encourage local action through public parks and recreation. NRPA and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation believe parks play a key role in protecting and preserving pollinators and their habitats. Together, as part of the ScottsMiracle-Gro’s GroMoreGood initiative, they are working to educate more children, families and communities about the importance of pollinators and what people can do to help. 

Rukmini Kalamangalam (she/her) is a program specialist at NRPA.