2014
Among the foci of the Stockyard Institute's work is the concept of the use of public spaces and the inequities that prevent community members from enjoying and utilizing such areas. The
A Plea for Playgrounds publication explores just that. The publication's inspiration is steeped in Chicago's history; in 1905, a proposal of the same name was created by the Special Park Commission of Chicago. Duignan collaborated with historian Jennifer Gray, and together they repurposed the original text to reflect the current moment.
Within the publication's pleas, Duignan encouraged community members to donate resources for the establishment of recreational parks in systematically oppressed neighborhoods. The playgrounds imagined by Duignan included not just equipment for children's play, but also civic resources such as libraries, classrooms, and lecture halls, among others.