Franklin Park’s White Stadium is home to numerous Boston Public School athletic teams and community events. However, the sporting location has recently gained recognition as Boston Unity Soccer Partners aims to host a new National Women’s Soccer League team in Boston, where the home games will be played there. As reported by the Boston Herald, the Boston Unity Soccer Partners has collected $50 million thus far. The city of Boston has also agreed to contribute $50 million to the renovation. With a total of approximately $100 million raised, substantial changes are expected to come to White Stadium.
Although these changes to White Stadium seem fully beneficial, many Boston residents living near Franklin Park are unhappy with the city’s decision. These Boston residents who do not appreciate the city’s decision to move forward with the stadium’s renovation argue that Boston Unity Partners would not undergo a project of this size in other neighborhoods. Some believe the renovation is moving forward in White Stadium because it is located in an area where surrounding residents do not have much of a political and “powerful” voice. The Boston Herald recently spoke with Jon Ball, a resident of Jamaica Plain, who is not in support of the renovation taking place. Ball protests that the city of Boston “wouldn’t do this to the Common. They wouldn’t do this to the Back Bay Fens.” He continues, stating how the city is “just doing [the renovation to White Stadium] because people who live here don’t have political clout.”
On the contrary, there are also many in favor of White Stadium’s renovation. Those in favor are excited about the launch of a National Women’s Soccer League team in Boston and also believe that the project will be substantially beneficial to the youth of Boston. A recent Boston Globe article stated that the project’s primary focus “is our commitment to Boston’s youth. Boston Public Schools will remain the owner of the stadium, ensuring that students will always be the primary focus.”
As a Boston teen, I look forward to the completed renovation because it will be a great opportunity to watch sporting events and attend community events. I live a five minute walk from Franklin Park. For the longest time, I have memories of biking through the park, playing basketball there, and walking through the park. Whenever I would pass by White Stadium, I vividly remember it always being empty, quiet, and run down whenever there wasn’t a high school football game being played. Thus, I believe that the renovation to White Stadium will be nothing but beneficial for the Boston community, and I have high hopes for the upcoming project.
Despite the disagreement among the decision to renovate White Stadium, the project is set to begin construction this fall and be completed by 2026. With the opening of the renovated stadium to come in the next two years, many are excited to swing by and watch a women’s soccer game and are anticipating the project to help build community.
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