Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Inc. v. City of Boston

Summary

The court affirmed judgment for the defendants, holding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to enforce the terms of the White Fund charitable trust and that the White Stadium parcel was no longer protected parkland under article 97 when the challenged agreements were executed. The court concluded that legislation enacted in 1947 and 1950 collectively diverted the parcel to a school-related use before article 97 was ratified. It further held that the agreements granted Unity Soccer a revocable license, not an easement, through other portions of Franklin Park, and that the plaintiffs failed to show an article 97 violation or prejudicial evidentiary error concerning those areas.