[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6211569,"mediaKeyId","3694971-bcb30b30c3be47aa5db6baefd3486620","parentId",3694971,"title","City officials outline environmental commitments for White Stadium redevelopment","audioSeconds",1598,"startMs",130000,"endMs",1728000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3694971-bcb30b30c3be47aa5db6baefd3486620&start=130&end=1728","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3694971-bcb30b30c3be47aa5db6baefd3486620/thumbnail_130000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6211569/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/City-officials-outline-environmental-commitments-for-White-Stadium-redevelopment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211569-fd28946cba3ccdf1fa1f9bce8679fc27/orig.mp4?Expires=1770986060&Signature=Q5kTyeFVgAfr6lha6ixynJ~GOd8GyIj-9hpE9HiUb-LGtI8jXL1k4yS37-vzBy-9wHfE8wSDy5jdhxU8f-OJk-HSJ2oFp9CSOVjA0vHJhpjYU8rWBlZJp6YnkQ22kZWwr1EpQUohKWj8hEgEXbQBDRga1sb7LXEgsOrjjjqJtMS7aLe9hXeg9LfWYUS4y6e~Nzm6gcgWsonXmTz-uAzg7tzh4pEJjyHTPBbamkoYwGc3AlIJqguAFK78sQ~iNlvAnCd9x6O99dXZwY22D1j06TADvalvu~GOWtQ9OOFh8SIW2KtAA50V2QOQ9NCoZGqxxSZ3VW9uTzr4vsln78M5fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boston City, MA","date","2025-06-06T22:37:21Z","article","Boston City Councilors and city environmental officials on June 6 heard a presentation on the environmental elements of the White Stadium redevelopment in Franklin Park, including stormwater controls, expanded public access, tree protections and a $3 million tree bank to fund 500 new trees.

The presentation from city staff framed the project as aligned with the Franklin Park Action Plan and argued the design reduces paving, preserves existing trees where possible, and includes infrastructure to mitigate flooding on the Playstead. \"We are here to walk, through the environmental commitments and park improvements tied to the White Stadium Project,\" said Brian Sweatt, chief climate officer for the Environment, Energy, and Open Space Cabinet.

The plan presented by city staff said the project will: intercept and store stormwater on-site using underground chambers intended to reduce flooding on adjacent park lawn areas; preserve more than 100 trees and plant roughly 500 new trees over the next 10 years, including 60 to 70 large canopy trees inside the stadium perimeter; provide two park-facing restrooms whose maintenance is covered by the stadium lease; expand public access hours from 40 to 105 hours per week; and eliminate on-site spectator parking in favor of shuttles, bicycle access and transit. \"There are more than a hundred preserved trees, and improved soil systems for the existing trees root zones,\" said Sam Valentine, senior landscape architect with the Boston Planning Department and a certified arborist.

City staff also described regulatory review steps they completed under Boston's Article 80 large project review. Sam Valentine said the project addressed the Article 80 checklist including shadow, air and water quality, flood hazard, wildlife habitat, noise and construction impacts. Staff said portions of the work are planned to be LEED-certifiable (the west side aiming for platinum, guaranteed at gold; the east side to be at least silver) and that proponents aim for net-zero carbon operation for the completed stadium.

Officials described tree protections already installed on site and explained the tree mitigation accounting method. Valentine said the city used a caliper-inch replacement approach rather than a one-for-one count, which led to the 500-tree mitigation figure and a $3 million tree bank that includes a two-year warranty for newly planted trees. \"We calculated the total removals by caliper inch, and that landed us on what eventually became the $3,000,000 number for 500 new trees,\" Valentine said. He also said that of the trees identified for removal in the public tree meeting, \"80% of the trees, 79 to be specific, fall under the category of poor, dead, dying, or diseased.\" Councilors asked for follow-up exhibits showing the change in the stadium footprint; staff said the new east facade will be roughly 40 feet east of the previous facade and that the project yields about an acre of currently fenced-off open space back to the park.

Officials said the stadium will be an all-electric facility and that the team and operators committed to cover maintenance of the park-facing restrooms. Staff reiterated there will be no on-site parking for spectators and that transportation planning anticipates electric shuttles and coordinated use of transit, but they acknowledged the shuttle routing and staging were not yet finalized. \"To my knowledge, that decision has not been finalized,\" staff told Councilor Lydia Edwards when asked about shuttle origins.

Councilors and staff described next steps: finalize construction documents, transition from demolition to construction, and establish a White Stadium Neighborhood Council to coordinate operations, transportation and programming. City staff said they will continue digesting public comments on the posted transportation plan and will stand up the neighborhood council before the stadium opens, with further community engagement through construction and operations.

Supporters and advocates at the hearing noted the project's investments in park maintenance and infrastructure. Councilor Aaron Murphy thanked staff for the presentation and emphasized that transportation remains a central outstanding issue for residents. \"We did hear at one of our hearings that Fields Corner was not going to be used,\" Councilor Murphy said, summarizing concerns about shuttle origins and neighborhood impacts.

Where details were not finalized, staff promised follow-up materials and exhibits. Council members pressed for additional information on the timeline for electric shuttles, the precise construction management plan, and confirmation that the tree bank funds will be used within Franklin Park under parks department direction.

A hearing handout and slide materials were referenced during the presentation and committee members requested that staff provide exhibits showing the old and new footprints and a clearer transportation response to public comments.

The committee did not take a formal vote during the hearing; staff closed by saying they would continue outreach and return with updated exhibits and plans.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Environmental Justice, Resiliency & Parks on June 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Boston City Councilors and city environmental officials on June 6 heard a presentation on the environmental elements of the White Stadium redevelopment in Franklin Park, including stormwater controls, expanded public access, tree protections and a $3 million tree bank to fund 500 new trees.","taxTitle","Boston City, Suffolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",3381,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6211562,"Neighbors and advocates say White Stadium process sidelined park preservation, call for alternatives",6190,3810000,10000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3694971-bcb30b30c3be47aa5db6baefd3486620&start=3810&end=10000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3694971-bcb30b30c3be47aa5db6baefd3486620/thumbnail_3810000.jpg","/articles/6211562/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Neighbors-and-advocates-say-White-Stadium-process-sidelined-park-preservation-call-for-alternatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211562-cbda81bc0e69a547413f4ccf26c5f40f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770986060&Signature=Ow51KHtk2NS0wW7bRR4fk1koCkKNtA1DceIdZ1MYGqZm2nBoqk0lCXza1ItD1HfGnyXBfqtT7vv2vNhRysiY9ZhUwu~tGGEJHrKLgaFgoqb-0B7ombirbVNz1-NEWYe9ANQD2z6nEmm9HDDTyA5lL8IXlFwqLORtP1mpl5zqFiFZGE-do3zogHuwxwO~~Pkstm3LS30iBvPoTirYTlC3fYxvlA~nhhZicYReSChOG~tgQw3H~7vAQ-bEqCKS71FCuBC2xqFSwEzGkTdu-XHLaa3sXE9n8y37s46HjXO70r7IJlM7ko4HhdeNnZm4j0-c-d-Kp8GdPFiowIlIE77sUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents, neighborhood groups and park advocates told the City Council committee on June 6 they remain deeply concerned about the White Stadium redevelopment process, the scale of the new stadium and the environmental and equity effects on Franklin Park.

\"The demolition has proceeded, but the construction project has not been fully bid to my knowledge,\" said Karen Mani Bridal, president of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, during the public panel. Advocates described demolition already completed, questioned why the project moved forward before a state-level environmental review and urged the council to pause and consider alternatives that would prioritize Boston Public Schools and preserve parkland.

Speakers said the public outreach process felt constrained and that critical issues remain unresolved, especially traffic, neighborhood parking and longer-term stewardship. James Meeley, a landscape architect and member of Franklin Park defenders, said: \"They're building a new stadium in Franklin Park,\" and criticized the timing and scope of the environmental review relative to the scale of the construction.

Community members raised a set of common concerns:

- Scale and use: Several speakers noted the planned stadium capacity (staff and proponents referenced about 11,000 for some events) and warned the facility could attract larger non-BPS events such as concerts. Melissa Hamill said she supported women's soccer but argued \"this is not the place for it\" because of park preservation concerns.

- Tree removals and canopy loss: Advocates disputed the health-based rationale for many removals and questioned whether the caliper-inch mitigation and a 10-year planting schedule will adequately replace mature canopy and ecosystem services. \"It is very convenient that 80% of the trees that are being considered unhealthy are surrounding the exact perimeter they need to expand the stadium,\" said an online testifier from Mattapan, reflecting community skepticism about tree assessments.

- Transportation and parking: Multiple speakers said the transportation plan leaves unanswered questions about shuttle origins, staging, overflow parking and impacts on nearby neighborhoods. Several residents predicted spillover parking and enforcement burdens on residential streets if shuttle and transit plans fail to materialize.

- Process and equity: Community speakers said they felt excluded from substantive choices about size and lease terms. \"You have divided this community in such a way where I'm afraid to walk down the street,\" said Renee Welch of Jamaica Plain, describing tensions in neighborhood discourse. Multiple speakers urged use of existing city capital funds or a smaller, school-focused renovation rather than a large public-private stadium.

Panelists and public commenters asked the council to require fuller environmental review (including regional or state review where applicable), to present alternatives that prioritize public ownership and lower-cost renovation options, and to provide more transparent traffic and construction plans prior to any further irreversible construction activity.

The committee did not make a decision during the hearing. Councilors said they would continue oversight and requested additional exhibits and transportation follow-up from city staff.","Dozens of residents and park advocates told the City Council committee they oppose the scale and process behind the White Stadium redevelopment, citing tree removals, lack of a state environmental review, transport impacts and equity concerns; advocacy groups proposed lower-cost alternatives focused on BPS needs and park restoration.","actionData","errors"]

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City officials outline environmental commitments for White Stadium redevelopment

Neighbors and advocates say White Stadium process sidelined park preservation, call for alternatives