Franklin Park highlights passport fair, climate resiliency recognition and push for stormwater credit trading

Village Clerk April J. Arellano told trustees that the February 2026 Passport Fair served 32 applicants, most of them Franklin Park residents.

Trustee Karen Special reported that Community Development Director Nicholas Walny and assistant engineer Dafne Henriquez were recognized by the Cook County Board for community engagement during development of the Climate Resiliency Plan; the plan and engagement work received a Golden Trumpet Award from the Publicity Club of Chicago in the community relations category.

Village President Barrett F. Pedersen introduced Adeline Ybarra, identified as a youth ambassador working with Representative Hernandez, and updated the board on efforts to revive a stormwater credit trading program. Pedersen said Franklin Park is coordinating with neighboring suburban communities to seek a recommitment from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) to a stormwater credit trading program; the village believes it has excess stormwater capacity it could sell to help develop vacant properties.

The board did not take a vote on the stormwater program during the meeting; Pedersen described it as ongoing coordination with suburban partners and the MWRD.