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Contact Information

Contact: Andy Smolen
Sustainability, Forestry,
Parkways and Facilities Director
Village of Franklin Park
Office - 847-671-8267

Members:

MaryEllen Smolen, Secretary
Monika Suryovich

Violet Pamintuan

Mission statement of the Bee Committee:

“The Franklin Park Bee Committee is a group of volunteer residents with the mission to promote the long-term benefits pollinators provide our planet. The Bee Committee aims to provide educational resources and pollinator advocacy to our community and neighboring communities, promoting healthy native plant habitats free to nearly free of pesticides”

Bee Committee

Franklin Park is a Bee City USA

The Village of Franklin Park has been certified as a Bee City USA affiliate, joining other cities in working to improve the environment for pollinators.

Research has shown that up to 40% of pollinator species on earth are at risk of extinction because of habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate disruption. The Village recognizes the importance of sustaining pollinators and is working to make Franklin Park more pollinator friendly.

More Info:Franklin_Park_Becomes_An_Affiliate_of_Bee_City_USA

Seed Swap

Visit our tables at the Park District of Franklin Park Seed Swap and learn about Winter Sowing your seeds and more!

Buckthorn Removal Workday

The Tree Preservation Commission is proud to highlight the efforts of a very special group of High School students: the Ecology Club at West Leyden High School. Under the guidance of club sponsor Todd Veltman (Ph.D., NBCT Physics Instructor), students planted a diverse array of native species, including six different types of milkweed.

Their hard work is already making an impact—last summer and fall, monarchs and other pollinators were spotted visiting the common and whorled milkweeds they planted!

The Ecology club shared this with the Tree Preservation Commission: “At West Leyden, we've planted about three dozen plants native to Illinois, making a huge impact on our local ecosystem. We have several different types of grasses, milkweeds, and other flowering plants. We're thrilled to see so many native species being drawn to our prairie, including bees and butterflies. We are thankful for all of the support from staff, maintenance, and local organizations to help make our garden possible. East Leyden is making a proposal to start their own native planting in the spring.”

The Tree Preservation Commission was grateful to receive the help and support of the East and West Leyden Ecology Club during our first VOFP Buckthorn Removal Workday on November 15, 2025. We witnessed the students’ enthusiasm and hard work firsthand, and it made us incredibly proud of our youth. Their volunteer spirit truly sets them apart and will no doubt shine through in their future personal successes and chosen career paths.

PRARIE PLANTING

List of plants to help bees, butterflies and pollinators

Click the image to find a list of plants that will help to bring your garden to life and create a pollinator paradise where bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects can thrive!