Franklin Park Defenders

A Superior Court judge ruled last Wednesday that the city’s plan to lease White Stadium to a professional soccer team is not in violation of state law, clearing the way for the planned $200 million project to move forward.

Members of Franklin Park Defenders, a group led by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and residents from the neighborhoods around Franklin Park, contend that the city’s plan to lease White Stadium to Boston Unity Soccer Partners for use by a professional women’s soccer team amounts to privatization of public park land.

The Boston School Committee approved unanimously the White Stadium renovation plan, shortly after a group of community members, Franklin Park neighbors and elected officials gathered at Franklin Park to protest the project.

On July 11, the city of Boston and the National Women’s Soccer League Boston, whose local expansion team is owned by Boston Unity Soccer Partners, will host a community event to usher in the warm weather with various art and music offerings.

A group of Franklin Park area residents convened on June 4 to gather community input as they pressed forward with a lawsuit against the proposed plan to revamp White Stadium for use by a professional women’s soccer team.