Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Boston City Council heard from members of the public about the controversial White Stadium Renovation Project Wednesday.
The project would renovate the aging stadium in Franklin Park into a state-of-the-art facility for BOS Nation FC (the city's National Women's Soccer League team) and Boston Public Schools student athletes. Last month, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced the City of Boston had signed a lease agreement with Boston Unity Soccer Partners to move the project forward.
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Franklin Park advocates have spoken out against the project, citing concerns about traffic, parking, and the elimination of public green space. There are also concerns about the ballooning price tag; while the city was initially projected to pay $50 million of the total cost, the latest figures show that number has grown to an estimated $91 million.
"There’s been, in my opinion, significant pushback from the community," Councilor Ed Flynn said at the start of Wednesday's hearing.
Many of the speakers, some of whom wearing orange shirts that read "Keep Franklin Park public," expressed their worries about how the project, and lease agreement, will affect BPS students.
"We do not want our football teams to be displaced from their home at White Stadium just because a women’s soccer team won’t allow their cleats on a green field," one woman said.
"White Stadium is a trust for student athletes from BPS and community use. That’s what I want my tax dollars to go to," another woman said.
"We’re against it, but not against it being developed," said Clifton A. Braithwaite, who ran for an at-large seat on the city council in the 2023 general election. "Do we want improvements? Yes. But we’re fearful, let me make it very clear. The housing problems that we’re dealing with, the changes affect those that are never gonna be at this table."
Emerald Necklace Conservancy President Karen Mauney-Brodek, whose group has filed a lawsuit against the city to stop the project, also spoke.
"I played women’s soccer, I love women’s soccer, but I also believe there are better ways to achieve these goals that would be less controversial and more considerate of the park and the communities surrounding the park," Mauney-Brodek said.
Demolition on the project gets underway this week.
WBZ NewsRadio's Emma Friedman reports.