The Boston Parks Commission unanimously approved the demolition of White Stadium today after an updated presentation to commissioners.
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The motion included the following provisions:
- Lease agreement must be signed before demolition begins
- Boston Parks and Recreation Department staff will continue to review demolition and construction management plans before construction begins
- Parks Commission will review any updated/finalized design plans and Transportation Access Plan Agreement (TAPA)
- Tree canopy protection public meeting must be held before demolition
The city has not finalized a lease agreement but expects to do so in September or October, with demolition starting shortly after. Also, Boston Unity Soccer Partners is in the process of drafting a TAPA with the Boston Transportation Department. This document will codify game day transportation management into law and allows for accountability if guidelines are not met.
The demolition vote was originally scheduled to take place alongside a vote on the stadium’s conceptual design in the last commission meeting at the end of July. Commissioners voted to approve the design, but delayed the demolition vote citing the lack of finalized plans included in that day’s presentation. They then requested the stadium team return with an updated presentation addressing noted concerns, such as demolition timelines and tree protection plans.
City Councilor Ed Flynn and a spokesperson for councilor Erin Murphy expressed their opposition to the project during the meeting. Both asked for more transparency and community input during the project process.
The public comment portion of the meeting — hosted on Zoom — included mixed reactions among residents and Franklin Park abutters. Attendees in opposition mentioned a variety of ways the stadium renovation would negatively impact the community such as traffic, disruption to wildlife habitats, and park accessibility. Several also voiced their frustration with the project moving forward despite continual negative feedback from many residents.
