Unity Playlot Park (c/o Kosciuszko Park)
History
In the late 1960s, residents of the Logan Square community asked the City of Chicago convert its under-used Kimball Avenue parking facility into a much-needed playlot. In 1968, the city agreed to turn over an L-shaped, quarter-acre section of the parking lot to the Chicago Park District, which installed playground equipment at the site.
By 1987, neighborhood residents had again banded together, this time to form "Citizens for a Decent Playlot." The park district began working with the community group to develop a plan for upgrading the park with additional playground equipment and plantings. Improvements were completed in part through the "sweat equity" contributions of residents, who also pledged to keep the park clean and crime-free. The rehabilitation was a great success, and the park became a haven for neighborhood children.
Unfortunately, drug dealers continued to gather in the remaining portion of the adjacent city parking lot. In the 1990s, further cooperation between the city, the park district, and Logan Square residents led to the transformation of the entire parking lot into an attractive three-quarter-acre park surrounded by ornamental fencing. The park features multiple playground areas for tots and older children, a sand box, a basketball court, and an interactive waterplay area. Unity Park's name recognizes the persistent efforts of the diverse Logan Square community in making the park a reality.
