The White Stadium saga: And the crowd goes, ‘Hmm’

Franklin Park Coalition: We’re ready to proceed — in collaboration

The White Stadium renovation project in Franklin Park has the potential to bring significant benefits to the park and its users (“White Stadium renovation to proceed: Suffolk judge rejects injunction sought by conservancy,” Metro, March 23). With a recent court decision denying the injunction to halt the renovation, the Franklin Park Coalition is ready for renewal of a collaborative planning process with robust community engagement. Our survey of more than 700 park users showed broad support, from every neighborhood surrounding the park, for a first-class stadium serving Boston’s student athletes. But nearly all condition their support on solutions to real concerns about park access for existing activities, the impact on natural areas, and avoiding traffic and parking nightmares.

We look forward to engaging with the City of Boston, Boston Public Schools, and Boston Unity Soccer Partners to ensure that park users’ needs are met and to bring the White Stadium project in alignment with the Franklin Park Action Plan. (Boston Globe CEO Linda Henry is an investor in Boston Unity Soccer Partners.)

The coalition’s diverse leadership and members are longtime park users and residents of the park neighborhoods. Our free events bring thousands of people to the park, many from neighborhoods that bear burdens from decades of disinvestment and disrespect. We are committed to protecting our treasured park and pushing for a stadium project that benefits all.

RICKIE THOMPSON, president

SANDY BAILEY, vice president

Franklin Park Coalition

Boston