The Olmsted Network is proud to stand with our partners at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy in Boston, MA, as they continue their fight to keep Olmsted’s Franklin Park open to the public.
In February 2024, the Conservancy joined 20 citizen advocates in filing a lawsuit against the City of Boston, the George Robert White Fund, Boston Unity Soccer Partners and others for plans to privatize White Stadium and 3 acres of parkland around it. Now, over a year later, they have received the disappointing news that their argument was not upheld in court. While this is a setback, it is not the end. They have announced plans to appeal the ruling— a step the Olmsted Network wholeheartedly supports.
Why This Matters
At 527 acres, Franklin Park is the cornerstone of Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace. Designed to serve as a shared civic resource, the park was meant to provide fresh air, recreation and respite for all Bostonians, regardless of background or income. Its open meadows, woodlands and gathering spaces are not just historically significant— they are essential today.
Historic White Stadium sits on land that was always meant to serve the public, yet the proposed redevelopment hands parkland over to a private entity, restricting access and shifting the balance of public versus private interests in a place designed for all. In a park that’s already at least 40% closed off to the public, can we afford to lose any more?
And we must remember that the privatization of public parkland isn’t just a local issue— it’s a national concern. As the first and only national organization dedicated to championing Olmsted parks, places and principles, the Olmsted Network believes that converting public land for exclusive use sets a dangerous precedent— not only in Boston but across the U.S. Once public parkland is gone, it’s gone forever.
Why We’re Standing with the Conservancy
At the heart of this case is a question that goes far beyond legal language: Who are parks for?
Frederick Law Olmsted believed parks were democratic spaces— essential to public health, civic life and social equity. When public land is repurposed for private gain, we lose not just green space but the very ideals those places were meant to uphold.
We believe the Conservancy was right to push back against privatization in 2024, and we believe they are right to challenge the court’s findings now. It’s not about resisting change— it’s about insisting on the right kind of change: thoughtful, inclusive and rooted in public good.
We’ll be watching closely as the appeal moves forward, and we encourage our community of advocates, city leaders and park lovers nationwide to do the same. This case isn’t just about Boston. It’s about what we value in cities across the country.
The Bigger Picture
This moment is a reminder that stewardship is not passive. It requires vigilance, partnership and the willingness to speak up.
The Olmsted Network remains committed to protecting public landscapes and the values they represent, especially now in 2025 when they are often on the chopping block. We thank the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for their leadership and courage, and we stand beside them as they pursue the next chapter in this important effort.
Parks are for people. All people. And that’s worth fighting for.
