A group of plaintiffs announced on Tuesday that they are continuing their lawsuit against a proposed plan to use White Stadium as a home for a National Women's Soccer League team.
The group, who are now calling themselves the Franklin Park Defenders, are seeking to move into a discovery phase to get access to details they say have not been publicly disclosed. Last month, a judge denied a request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the project.
Instead of having the stadium be used by a pro team, they are seeking the renovation of White Stadium for the exclusive benefit of Boston Public School students and the community.
Karen Mauney-Brodek, president of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, reiterated the group's belief that the project hasn't gone through the proper public review.
“Ultimately, this is a question about self-determination, about the community being able to decide what their — and our, and your — public park would be used for,” she said.
The city is reportedly set to spend $50 million on the renovation. Boston Unity Soccer Partners, the group bringing an NWSL team to Boston, has committed at least $30 million to the project, though that number may climb. The proposal would allow the team to use the stadium for games and practices, though it would still be owned by Boston Public Schools.
In a statement, Boston Unity Soccer Partners pushed back against the views expressed by the plaintiffs and said it continues to welcome feedback on the proposed plans at planned upcoming public meetings about the project.
“As indicated by the judge’s ruling last month, there is no legal basis to challenge this public-private-community partnership to revitalize White Stadium,” BUSP said in a statement. “The Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s sentiments are not consistent with the feedback we’ve heard from neighbors, civic leaders, community groups and elected officials in our more than 180 meetings and conversations since starting the process over a year and a half ago.”
The city of Boston did not immediately provide a statement about the ongoing lawsuit.
Although Judge Sarah Weyland Ellis found that the renovation for the project would significantly upgrade the facility, expand potential recreational uses and be a benefit to BPS, plaintiffs expressed a lack of faith in the proposal.
“We're saying that as a community, whether it's Roxbury or Jamaica Plain or Dorchester, Mattapan, we're looking for information as to what they really want to do with this park,” said Louis Elisa, president of the Garrison-Trotter Neighborhood Association. “What happens to public access? What happens to public participation? Where do our students go to play their sports?”
The plaintiffs also brought up concerns over the recent firing of Rosanne Foley, the executive director of the Boston Landmarks Commission, the city's preservation planning agency. That came after the group communicated to Wu its disapproval of how the city has handled several projects, including White Stadium.
And while some plaintiffs expressed support for women's soccer, they made clear that they don't believe White Stadium is the proper venue to host such a team.
Jean McGuire, who helped found METCO and was the first Black woman elected to the Boston School Committee, said Franklin Park is a symbol of what is right about Boston.
“And we need to keep things that are right about Boston in place,” she said.
