BOSTON (WHDH) - Protesters gathered at White Stadium Wednesday to rally against the renovation of Franklin Park in Boston.
Demolition crews started tearing down the stadium earlier this month to make way for a new facility, which will be used by a professional women’s soccer team and Boston Public Schools.
Taxpayers are expected to front half the cost of the $200 million project.
“This is all a capitalist venture to make huge amounts of money to steal our park. Our park is not for sale,” said protester Steve Kirschbaum, of Boston.
The group protesting Wednesday said they have an alternative plan — to renovate White Stadium as only a facility for Boston Public Schools, at a much lower cost to taxpayers and the environment.
Speakers remarked how, last month, half of the Boston City Council called for an immediate pause on White Stadium demolition and construction until the city releases a fully public renovation option and solidifies other missing plans.
“The preservation of this park has primarily been led by Black residents, and now, those residents are being told to step aside and listen to ‘what’s best for us,'” one speaker said.
Mayoral candidate Josh Kraft attended the protest Wednesday, saying he wants the project to be put on pause until a lawsuit challenging the renovation is resolved in court.
“This is a historic park, and the public has enjoyed it for generations upon generations. You can feel people’s frustration at not being heard,” Kraft said.
Mayor Michelle Wu is behind the project.
“I was not at the event myself, we’ve had the chance to hear very frequently from all those who have various opinions on the project,” Wu said Wednesday. “We’re moving forward as we’ve said we would, and at this point, it is not only irresponsible to break a legal lease, but we cannot ask students in our schools to wait, yet again, after decades and decades of broken promises that this project would get done.”
A press conference in support of the renovation took place Wednesday afternoon, with speakers including Boston Public Schools athletes and coaches.
“I believe it’s really necessary to implement this, especially nowadays in Boston, I feel like it’ll keep kids off the streets and provide more opportunity for our community,” said BPS student Alexis Carvajal Lorenzo.
“The fact of the matter is that our community stands to benefit so, so much from this stadium,” said local business owner Beth Santos.
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