For Immediate Release
February 11, 2025
Contact: Carlen Singmaster, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, csingmaster@emeraldnecklace.org, 617-522-2700
Demolition of White Stadium Begins Despite Mounting Public Opposition to Pro Soccer Stadium Plan; Franklin Park Tree-Cutting Starts
Photo: Felled trees outside White Stadium in Franklin Park.
BOSTON — Despite mounting public opposition to a planned professional soccer stadium in Boston’s historic Franklin Park, construction crews began demolishing White Stadium and clear-cutting trees in the park this afternoon. Dozens of mature trees have been cut down, and crews have begun demolishing the stadium’s grandstands.
Members of the Franklin Park Defenders, a group of citizens and park advocates who oppose the soccer stadium plans, responded.
“In just 4 weeks, a trial will begin to determine the ultimate fate of White Stadium. We’re confident that after all the facts are reviewed, the court will find that the new pro-soccer stadium and entertainment complex violates Massachusetts' constitutional protections against the privatization of public land," said Emerald Necklace Conservancy President Karen Mauney-Brodek. “We're confident the court will ultimately protect the public’s right to the continued public use and enjoyment of Franklin Park and its public facilities. The only reason to permanently damage Franklin Park before the project’s fate is known is the disrespectful soccer team’s rushed timeline and their private investors’ desire for maximum profit."
“Ultimately, this fight is not merely about a building, but about permanently protecting public open space for future generations of Bostonians, and for all residents of Massachusetts. The hard-won protections our state provides for open space must not taken for granted," she continued. “The question is whether future generations will have the full access to our public park that the state Constitution guarantees. After BOS Nation’s unconstitutional privatization plan is ultimately blocked, we will continue working to ensure that White Stadium is rebuilt as the fully-public high school stadium that BPS students deserve.”
“By beginning to demolish White Stadium in Franklin Park and clear acres of open space of more than 100 trees around it, the City and BOS Nation are showing their disregard of the community, and taking an enormous risk," said Mauney-Brodek. “The fact that they’re beginning demolition on the Friday before a holiday weekend shows the lengths they will go to to conceal their reckless actions from public scrutiny."
“Is this some dark Valentine’s gift to the community?" added Melissa Hamel, a Jamaica Plain resident and member of the Franklin Park Defenders. “First, the city released the lease outlining the terms of their White Stadium giveaway two days before Christmas, then they put up fences to keep out the public on MLK Day. Now they start to kill 145 mature trees on Valentine’s Day. I see a pattern here."
Last month, half of the Boston City Council called for an immediate pause on White Stadium demolition and construction until the City releases a fully public renovation option and solidifies other missing plans and commitments.
The Emerald Necklace Conservancy has proposed such an alternative concept: a high-quality, fully public renovation of White Stadium that would avoid the many negative impacts of building a professional sports venue in the middle of historic Franklin Park. A detailed cost estimate conducted by Vermeulens, Inc. included in the report found that Boston could renovate White Stadium as a high-quality, fully public high school stadium for $28.9 million — a fraction of the $200 million cost of the professional soccer stadium plans, at least $100 million of which will be covered by Boston taxpayers.
Background
The proposal by BOS Nation and the City of Boston includes the demolition of 95% of White Stadium to build a new for-profit professional sports and concert venue that is twice the size of the existing public school sports stadium. The project would clear-cut 145 trees and harm historic public parkland in the process.
In January, plaintiffs in the citizens’ lawsuit to prevent year-round commercial use of White Stadium filed an expanded legal complaint in Suffolk Superior Court, aiming to prevent corporate control of public parkland in Boston’s historic Franklin Park. Twenty individual residents and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy allege in the lawsuit that the proposal violates Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution by illegally transferring public trust and conservation land to private use without required legislative review and approval. A trial in the lawsuit is scheduled to begin on March 18, 2025.
In addition to the legal concerns expressed in the ongoing lawsuit, neighboring residents and park advocates have expressed opposition to the project over issues ranging from increased air, noise and light pollution, increased litter, the removal of 145 mature trees, increased traffic and parking restrictions, football exclusion until November, and decreased community access.
Learn more at franklinparkdefenders.com.
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