The Olmsted Network recently hosted Save Olmsted Spaces: Franklin Park—a timely, hour-long conversation on the demolition and privatization of White Stadium in Boston’s Franklin Park.
Franklin Park, often called “the jewel of the Emerald Necklace,” is the last great rural park designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Today, unfortunately, 40% or 200 acres of Franklin Park cannot be accessed freely by the general public— and the threat of commercialization continues to grow as the city fast-tracks a proposal to transform the existing high school athletic field into a professional, for-profit sports complex.
Historian and author Ethan Carr led the discussion, asking Emerald Necklace Conservancy President Karen Mauney-Brodek and notable community leaders Louis Elisa and Renee Stacey Welch to provide commentary on the project and share what the privatization of White Stadium would mean for Boston’s public parkland— and public parkland across the nation.
Over 200 people from Boston and across the country registered for the webinar. Attendees even joined from Canada, Malaysia, Uganda, Poland and France, proving that the decision to move ahead with the proposed plan for White Stadium holds more than just local significance.
“It’s a tough time across all parks,” Welch said. “The people of Boston owe it to our brothers and sister cities and towns to fight here so that they can have the same type of support— to understand how it’s done— so that they can fight in their communities because all parks are at risk.”
At the end of the program, Olmsted Network Interim President Caroline Cunningham announced that the the organization would submit a letter to the Boston City Council on Monday, March 6. She urged attendees and supporters to sign onto the letter in solidarity. The letter urges the city to halt the destruction of mature trees and the demolition of the stadium in order to preserve Franklin Park for the public, just as famed park designer Frederick Law Olmsted intended.
Those interested can watch the program above and join the fight by:
Reading the Olmsted Network’s letter: https://bit.ly/41lzGVC
Signing onto the Olmsted Network’s letter: https://bit.ly/3F84lhY
Images courtesy of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy.
Privatization of public parks and green spaces is not a problem exclusive to Boston. This webinar will serve as a precursor to our free Conversations with Olmsted: What Ever Happened to Parks for All People webinar on March 18, where engaged community leaders from across the country will discuss this distressing trend and strategies for protecting parks and public spaces. Community leader Derrick Evans will represent Boston.
