Photo: Mike Macklin/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Advocates in Roxbury renewed their call for elected leaders to halt the planned renovations of White Stadium.
The group is going by the name Franklin Park Defenders. Their main problem with the plan centers on the redevelopment of the stadium for women’s professional soccer.
Renee Stacey Welch with the Franklin Park Defenders said how this focus will negatively impact the residents around the stadium, despite how the city pitches it.
“This is a transportation mirage, right? The city wants to think or speculate that people are actually going to use all these different amenities to come here and that's not what's going to happen,” Welch said. “They're going to drive in, they're going to make our lives difficult, and we're not going to be able to enjoy not just our community but our park.”
She also added that the group is not against the renovations in concept, but they want to make sure they focus more on the kids in the community rather than a professional sports team.
“We’re not saying we don’t want this,” Welch said. “Yes, White Stadium needs to be rehabbed for our kids in our community, not for a bunch of rich people to come in here and decimate our park. We're going to continue to fight.”
FPD announced on May 16 that they would appeal the Suffolk Superior Court’s ruling to allow for the renovations to go ahead. They argue that the plan ignores their concerns regarding crowds, traffic, noise, and quality of life.
A City Spokesperson responded with this statement:
"Franklin Park has always been home to large events, including some of the City’s most beloved annual concerts and cultural festivals that regularly draw tens of thousands of attendees. But until now, there has never been an organized transportation plan to actively coordinate and manage traffic, parking, and enforcement. The renovated White Stadium transportation plan will set a new standard for crowd events in Boston: residents will benefit from new resident parking and visitor passes, visitors will travel on team-provided electric shuttles, and Franklin Park users will have their access to the park protected. We are grateful for the many community comments already received and look forward to reviewing them fully as we continue to revise the plan through the end of the year.”
WBZ NewsRadio’s Mike Macklin (@mikemacklinwbz) reports.