Join the Village of Franklin Park for the Connect Franklin Park Open House!

November 6, 2025

The Village of Franklin Park invites you to a public information meeting for the Connect Franklin Park Project on Wednesday, November 19th from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Police Station Community Room.

The Village of Franklin Park is working alongside the Federal Railroad Administration, Cook County, and the Illinois Commerce Commission on a project focused on grade separation improvement along Franklin Park’s railways. This project will improve emergency access, increase safety, and improve connectivity within Franklin Park. The meeting will be an open house format, and residents can come at any time during the meeting to learn about the project overview, objectives, and the project timeline.

Read the Plan & Please check out the website (which includes information in Spanish and Polish) here: ; Here 

Zonings holds Open House for Grand Avenue Improvements!

November 3rd, 2025

On Wednesday October 29, the Community Development and Zoning department held a open house to display the plans for the new and improved Grand Avenue corridor. Running from Louis Street to 25th Avenue, the corridor improvements will include new green medians, flood control, and improved infrastructure. The Village was happy to be able to answer questions for those interested.

Get a $100,000 Grant to fund your Business! 

October 15th, 2025

The Village of Franklin Park is excited to notify local businesses of the Catalyst Grant, a competitive funding opportunity offering $100,000 to help growing businesses upscale their operations. Eligible industries include local construction, manufacturing,  and other industrial establishments based in Cook County with at least one full-time employee and revenues between $500,000 to $10 million. Funds may be used for equipment purchases, facility upgrades, or workforce investments. Applications are due October 31, 2025, by 5:00 PM. To learn more, view the attached flyer or visit the program website to apply.

💵 Apply for the Catalyst Grant Here! 

Mayor Pedersen attends Franklin Avenue Project Groundbreaking!

October 15th, 2025

The Village of Franklin Park and Mayor Barret Pedersen were thrilled to be apart of the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of Franklin Avenue. The project, which will run from Runge Street to the Cook-DuPage County border, will improve regional access and congestion. The project includes sewer replacements and new pavement and landscaping, alongside the additional of a separated bike lane. For more information, please see below.

Community Development helps lead Manufacturing Day 2025!

October 7th, 2025

On October 1st, Community Development staff joined representatives from Cook County, DCEO, Sloan Valve, and Deluxe Stitcher to celebrate manufacturing day at East and West Leyden High Schools. The day was centered around presentations regarding job readiness and career opportunities in the manufacturing sector to students enrolled in Industrial Technology classes. The goal was to get students thinking about careers in the manufacturing industry and how to prepare for getting their first job.

Grand Avenue Reconstruction Open House!

October 14th, 2025

The Village of Franklin Park, Cook County, and Corvias Infrastructure Solutions (CIS), are hosting an open house on October 29th from 5 to 7 PM to gather feedback on planned improvements to the Grand Avenue Corridor from Louis Street to 25th Avenue. This will take place in the Police Station Community Room at 9451 Belmont Avenue. The aim of the reconstruction project is to reduce flooding, enhance pedestrian access, improve vehicular safety, and bring additional trees and landscaping to the corridor.

Take the 2026 CMAP Transportation Survey!

August 26, 2025

How would you improve transportation in Franklin Park and across Chicagoland? The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning needs your input to shape the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan.

Your response will help determine what major projects and strategies are prioritized in the coming years. Please share your experiences and ideas in a short 10-minute questionnaire.

Read the Plan & Take the Survey → Here 

Village of Franklin Park participates in O’Hare Bike Network Study ride along!

August 25, 2025

The Village of Franklin Park was thrilled to have a community bike ride to help advance the O’Hare Bike Network Study! Alongside the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, Mayor Barrett Pedersen and over 25 residents and local officials cruised on their bikes around Franklin Park. Staff highlighted new bike lanes and future routes while residents got to learn more about the work being done to make Franklin Park and the O'Hare area a safer and more enjoyable community for cyclists.

See a recap of the efforts here: → Here 

Do West of Chicago tourism campaign wants to hear from you!

August 13, 2025

The Village of Franklin Park is thrilled to join forces with Explore Oak Park and Beyond’s “Do West of Chicago” tourism campaign! This exciting initiative shines a spotlight on the communities of Western Cook County, located due west of the City of Chicago. From supporting local hotels and businesses to promoting fun events such as Franklin Park Fest, this alliance of more than 20 near-west suburban neighborhoods allows visitors discover our town’s delicious restaurants, beautiful parks, and vibrant downtown.

To better support this initiative, the Explore Oak Park and Beyond team is asking you take a few minutes to complete a short survey. Your input will help “Do West” focus on the services local businesses and residents need, shape marketing outreach programs, and prioritize resources for the coming years.

Take the Survey → Here 

O’Hare Bike Network Study Needs Your Input!

August 8, 2025

Join representatives from the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) and the Village of Franklin Park for a bicycle ride on August 13, 5:30 P.M to 6:30 P.M., in support of the O’Hare Area Bike Network Study.

This 6-mile-long bike ride is an opportunity to provide firsthand feedback to the study team on bicycling in the area. The bike ride will begin at the Village of Franklin Park Police Department and feature key sites and challenges within both existing and proposed bike networks. All participants must sign the event waiver before beginning the ride.

🗓️ Submit the Bike Ride Sign up Form by August 11th, 2025

Also, whether you’re a regular cyclist or just enjoy an occasional ride, your voice matters. Submit a survey in the link below to help stakeholders build a more connected cycling network. Share your thoughts, experiences, and goals for biking in our area.

🗓️ Take the O’Hare Bike Network Survey by August 15th, 2025.

Grand Avenue and George Street Improvements Project Open House 

June 16, 2025

See the future of Grand Avenue! The Village will hold an Open House on Thursday, June 26th, at 5:00 pm at the Village Police Department’s community room to discuss traffic circulation improvements to the surrounding area of Grand Avenue and George Street near Mannheim Road.

The proposed changes include a new traffic light into the Grand Shopping Plaza / Jewel Osco, additional turning lanes, pedestrian signals, and enhanced landscaping.

We want to hear your opinions and ideas of how to transform Grand Avenue into a safe, accessible, and thriving corridor.

Village Adopts Grand Avenue Corridor Plan

March 12, 2025

After one and a half years of collaboration and public engagement, the Village has adopted the Grand Avenue Corridor Plan. Created in partnership with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), this plan is meant to guide the vision for Grand Avenue over the next ten to twenty years. The plan will serve as a framework for elected officials, village staff, and community members to make informed decisions regarding land use, transportation, economic development, and other infrastructure improvements
along Grand Avenue.

The plan focuses on:

• Enhancing transportation safety and making Grand Avenue safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles alike.
• Making Grand Avenue pedestrian-friendly through streetscaping and intersection improvements to create a more walkable and enjoyable experience for all.
• Promoting access to public transit along the Grand Avenue corridor by making it more convenient and seamless to reach bus stops.
• Making Grand Avenue equally accessible by walking, biking, bus, and private transport.
• Identifying economic development opportunities and strategies to support small businesses and utilize vacant properties.

The Village is grateful for the support that CMAP provided throughout this process. Their partnership and outreach ensured that the plan would be tailor made to fit the unique needs of our community. We are excited to put this plan in motion to make Grand Avenue better than ever. 

For more information on the planning process and to access the full plan, please visit the following links:
 

Grand Avenue Corridor Plan

Project Website