Oak Park board approves Greenprint Partners contract for green‑infrastructure study

The Village Board of Trustees on Monday approved a professional services agreement with Greenprint Partners to conduct a biodiversity and green‑infrastructure study and plan, in an amount not to exceed $120,000. The study is intended to establish a baseline of existing green land and recommend policies and programs to expand the village’s green infrastructure.

The contract implements a component of the village’s Climate Ready Oak Park commitments. “This is one of our six commitments in the Climate Ready Oak Park plan to commit 30% of the village’s land to green infrastructure or enhanced park management,” said Lindsey Roland, the village’s chief sustainability officer, during the presentation.

The consultant will define the village’s current green‑infrastructure footprint, develop metrics and a baseline, and identify opportunities and policy approaches to meet the target over a number of years.

Trustee Eder recused himself from the discussion and vote, stating on the record, “I’m gonna recuse… my wife works for this company. So I am going to recuse myself from this vote.” The roll call in the transcript shows approval recorded for a majority of trustees present following the recusal.

Board materials said the agreement amount will not exceed $120,000; staff described the work as setting a clear definition of what counts toward the village’s green‑infrastructure target, mapping current assets, and recommending programmatic and policy steps. Trustees asked about coordination with other local agencies, including Park Districts and school districts, and staff said they had already begun conversations with those partners.

Staff will return with any final contracts and a proposed implementation timeline and budget language for inclusion in the village’s capital planning process.

The contract was introduced during the meeting’s regular agenda and approved by roll call after Trustee Eder’s stated recusal.