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Our History
Our History
The Unity Park Advisory Council is a local group made up of local parents and neighbors. 2026 is the 40th year of community organizing and activity, in and around Unity Park. The original organizing was initiated by the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) in July, 1986 when the park was a concrete playlot known as “Playlot 293” -- just a small fenced-off portion of a larger, City-owned parking lot. The organizing led to the 1986 formation of a group of parents and neighbors known as “Parents for a Decent Playlot”, that later evolved into the Unity Park Advisory Council (UPAC) in 1993, when advisory councils were first authorized by the Park District.
In 1993 UPAC convinced the City to donate the remainder of the surrounding parking lot to the Park District and to expand Unity Park. The 1994 expansion quadrupled the size of the 1993 park from Drummond almost all the way to Schubert. In the year 2000, the City used eminent domain to close Schubert Avenue at Kimball, and to acquire four properties immediately north and south of Schubert, which expanded Unity Park to its current size. During this period the spray pool and comfort station were built. UPAC oversaw and provided direction for all of these expansions.
Earlier in 2013, UPAC prepared and submitted an application and won approval from the Chicago Park District to be one of the first 35 playgrounds in the City to be rehabbed under the Park District’s new “Chicago Plays!” capital funding program. All 300 Chicago Park District playgrounds are scheduled to be rehabbed over the next five years, but the first 35 were selected from among competing parks that submitted applications. Unity’s biggest new feature is the web climber, which replaces the wooden pirate ship. The other play structures were also expanded and painted. All of Unity’s old fibar was removed and replaced, and the asphalt slab was resurfaced. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new and improved Unity play area was held during Pumpkinfest, on Saturday October 26th.
Since 2000, UPAC has provided programs at Unity Park, beyond what the Park District provides. In the last few years, UPAC’s calendar has included four regular events in the park: an April Earth Day cleanup and planting, a July “Art in the Park” program (where paintings are later exhibited in local galleries), an August movie, and the October Pumpkinfest--our signature event. In 2013, UPAC also presented a house DJ night in June and a blues and jazz concert in September. UPAC hosts an annual December fundraiser that enables it to offer all programming, free to the public.
Our Council
Our Council
Unity Park Advisory Council (UPAC) is a volunteer run 501(c)3 non-profit organization advocating to preserve and improve Unity Park.
The Unity Park Advisory Council facilitates the use of Unity Park by the public through the following; maintenance & up-keep of the park, creating garden & art projects, and the planning/hosting of special events at the park.
All advisory council decisions are made in meetings by a majority of voting members. One becomes a voting member at their third advisory council meeting. Join us at our next meeting and become a member here!
Donations to UPAC are tax deductible.
UPAC is organized and registered as an Illinois not-for-profit corporation. None of our members are paid—we are all volunteers. All funds raised are used exclusively for park programming. The IRS has issued a letter designating UPAC as a 501(c)(3) civic organization that pays no income tax. Donations to 501(c)(3) corporations are tax-deductible, and this allows donors to deduct their donations to UPAC as charitable contributions.
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