Using Movies to Build Community
Watch how the Chicago Park District has expanded their movie program to now host movie events in more than 170 parks each summer.
We’re in awe of the success the Chicago Park District has seen with their summer movie program. John Ravenscroft, Chicago Park District’s Movies in the Park program manager, talked about the program’s humble beginnings with Swank. “When Movies in the Park started in 2000, it was a much smaller program – [showing] probably about 50 movies a summer,” he said. “Several years into the program, as it kept growing, it became clear we wanted to commit to this and we wanted it to become bigger and better, so we created staff positions and bought all of the equipment. We operate the program totally in house.”
Next we asked John all about the finer details of the program like promotion and funding. Promoting their movie events online through a website and a mobile app, John shared the app is actually the number one most downloaded municipal app in the country. One must-have feature they do provide that helps bring in big audiences is the free popcorn. “It is absolutely part of our program – we do it every time, at every place… I mean what’s a movie without popcorn?” John added.
In terms of funding, John answered, “The Chicago Park District has about 600 parks, and we [show] movies in about 170-175 of them each summer. Our program is funded by sponsorship dollars. We have presenting sponsors and supporting sponsors as well as an underwriting program, which allows community-based organizations to pay us a fee to bring a movie to their park.”
"We say all the time active parks are safer parks. By putting programming like movies into parks, it makes those spaces activated and safer and more community driven and focused." John Ravenscroft, Chicago Park District’s Movies in the Park Program Manager
So what do attendees think of this amazing program? Renee Stelter, who’s affiliated with program sponsor Bank of America, said, “This is a fun summer family experience that we like to offer for free. We like to just encourage everyone to come out and have fun.” Other attendees for that night’s showing of “Wonder Woman” at Chicago's Women's Park and Gardens shared statements ranging from “it feels like a part of the Chicago culture now” and “it’s a great way to meet up with friends after work” to “it’s a great way to socialize with neighbors and get to know the people around [you]” and “[it helped me] discover an oasis inside of Chicago.”
John finished off the interview with his own feelings about the movie program and his take on what working with Swank is like: “It’s a great opportunity to get outside, be with your neighbors and enjoy and experience the city in a way that many people might not have before. I’ve been to so many parks where you can stand in the park and watch people come off their front porch and just walk across the street to meet and talk to neighbors they’ve never seen before.”
“We say all the time active parks are safer parks. By putting programming like movies into parks, it makes those spaces activated and safer and more community driven and focused,” he continued. “To sit outside after dark to watch a movie in open air, it’s a totally unique experience. It’s something that we’re very happy to offer on such a wide scale throughout the city. We have such a great relationship [with Swank.] The customer service is so excellent, I always know I’ll be taken care of whenever I have a question, need a quote, an extra copy of a DVD or just need to figure something out. I know that I will always get an answer, and I’ll get it right away.”