Emerald Necklace Conservancy going back to court to block renovation of White Stadium

Boston Globe

16-05-2025

A full text of the appeal is not yet available, but a press release issued by the ENC made three claims that it believes warrant relitigation: multiple violations of state law that prohibit commercial usage purposes; illegal sale of alcohol in a Boston Public Schools facility; and a violation of the George Robert White Trust.
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Demolition of the 76-year-old stadium is nearly complete and construction is expected to begin soon after the remaining rubble is cleared.
Officials from the city's Landmarks Commission visited the site Friday morning and received a briefing on, among other details, materials to be used for new exterior and interior facades, seat cover colors, and paving materials.
The city's share of the project is expected to rise above the current $91 million estimate, with the ownership group of the new NWSL team,
'It's our mission to protect and support our public parks for future generations, even when it's hard,' said Karen Mauney-Brodek, president of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, in the release. 'We are optimistic that the courts will ultimately uphold the fundamental constitutional protections that all public recreation land in Massachusetts depends on, and protect Franklin Park and a public stadium for generations to come. And we're committed to partnering with the city, and anyone else, to make a fully public renovated White Stadium a reality.'
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The team is to use the renovated stadium for portions of up to 40 days of the year, plus be responsible for year-round maintenance and operations.
A new eight-lane track will surround the new professional-level grass field, with BPS Athletics gaining new office space in the city-financed and rebuilt east grandstand, which also will contain student and community usage space.
The team is responsible for the construction of the west grandstand and a year-round restaurant being built just outside the stadium and still within the parcel.
One bone of contention from the ENC is a new spur of paved road off Pierpont Road behind the west grandstand that leads to a loading dock to be used by the team. That change of use for commercial purpose was not addressed in the ruling, the ENC said. The group says that such a change would require two-thirds approval from the state legislature in order to not violate the Article 97 law that prohibits a different use of public parklands.
Usage of other roads running through Franklin Park and new utility trenches also violate Article 97, the ENC claims.
The ENC maintains that the ruling also ignored trial testimony about the sale of alcohol inside the stadium, which the plaintiffs said would be in violation of state law.
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Boston Legacy FC has said it hopes to begin playing its first season at White Stadium next March.
The east grandstand is not expected to be completed before late next year.
Linda Henry, CEO of Boston Globe Media Partners, announced in February that she was withdrawing from the investor group behind the soccer team.
Michael Silverman can be reached at