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- Meet Me at Unity Playlot
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- Long Haul Productions
An urban fable that tells how a once-scruffy park in Chicago' s Logan Square neighborhood fostered a movement that took on an entrenched incumbent Alderman – and Chicago's legendary political machine. The result: one of the most surprising city elections in recent history.
When this story first aired as part of the "Whose Democracy Is It?" series on NPR in 2003, we were flooded with requests from small grassroots political organizations around the country, asking for copies that members could play at meetings. People were genuinely moved. It's set in Chicago, but it's a story that resonates with people nationwide.
Unity Playlot was originally broadcast on Chicago Public Radio in 2003.
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Piece Description
An urban fable that tells how a once-scruffy park in Chicago' s Logan Square neighborhood fostered a movement that took on an entrenched incumbent Alderman – and Chicago's legendary political machine. The result: one of the most surprising city elections in recent history. When this story first aired as part of the "Whose Democracy Is It?" series on NPR in 2003, we were flooded with requests from small grassroots political organizations around the country, asking for copies that members could play at meetings. People were genuinely moved. It's set in Chicago, but it's a story that resonates with people nationwide. Unity Playlot was originally broadcast on Chicago Public Radio in 2003.
Broadcast History
Unity Playlot was originally broadcast on Chicago Public Radio in 2003.
Transcript
HOST INTRO:
In Chicago, elections often are nothing more than coronations. In a city known for its notorious machine politics and dominant mayor - who often seems to be named Daley - the incumbent usually wins handily in City Council elections.
That's why a recent independent grassroots campaign in Chicago's 35th Ward made people take notice. There, political neophyte Rey Colon battled the machine-backed, incumbent Alderman in a race that had effectively begun a decade before in a tiny, decrepit playlot on Chicago's northwest side.
Producers Dan Collison and Elizabeth Meister have the story of how the battle over a basketball court lead to the stuff of political legend. The story is narrated by Elizabeth Meister.
Tape
Unity Playlot was produced by Elizabeth Meister and Dan Collison for Long Haul Production in association with Chicago Public Radio. Production assistance by...
Read the full transcript
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Kerry Seed
Posted on December 08, 2004 at 04:59 PM | Permalink
Review of Meet Me at Unity Playlot
Longhaul Productions has done a nice job of capturing this sound rich neighborhood struggle over the revitalization Chicago's Unity Playlot. The piece opens with a Joel Monarch song about the park, an innovative touch. While the piece is very Chicago-centric, little details (like the bit about Greek food) and well-realized characters make this a vivid tale, appropriate for listeners across the country. An uncommon story of citizens coming together in an insular age, this piece would complement any programming about democracy or community. Unfortunately missing from this piece are many voices of the young people who use the park.