Chicago’s Unity Park Advisory Council (UPAC) held “Park Day” May 22 at the site, 2636 N. Kimball Ave.—and one of the events involved the unveiling of a custom-designed little library that honors late LGBTQ-rights activist John Pennycuff.
Robert Castillo, Pennycuff’s widower, participated in the unveiling.
Pennycuff, who worked for Windy City Times, grew up in the Logan Square neighborhood, where the park is located. He was also a longtime member of UPAC.
The couple—known for the activism—also have another, larger item named after them: the John Pennycuff Memorial Apartments at Robert Castillo Plaza, at 2031-33 N. Milwaukee Ave. However, Castillo made news after a Block Club Chicago item said he was denied an apartment in the building, saying he didn’t meet the building’s employment requirement. Castillo confirmed to Windy City Times that he recently received a letter from Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation President Richard Gonzalez saying that Castillo didn’t meet the criteria and that there was no apartment available to him.
The apartments are being marketed as LGBTQ-friendly.
—Andrew Davis