Our Mission
Environmental Justice for Franklin Park (EJ4FP) is a collective of neighbors, local organizations and businesses who are concerned about the increased “selling out” of Franklin Park. We believe that Franklin Park should be protected as a haven for the community and school children of Boston.
Goal One
Raise awareness about various proposed projects that may affect Franklin Park and the surrounding community’s access to the parkland. We believe that the park is an essential component for the communities that surround it, use it, protect it, and love it. The people of Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan and Roslindale should have the first and last word on how this vital resource is developed.
Photo by Jun Seung Lee.
Goal Two
Take the pulse of the community and reach out to those who feel that their voices have not been heard. We have developed a survey on the potential impacts to Franklin Park and would like your input. Please fill out the survey and share it with your friends and neighbors.
Goal Three
Propose a more robust community input and public process that listens to everyone, not just the loudest or most financially influential. Massachusetts approved a law in 2021 that states neighborhoods that classify as environmental justice communities are due MORE, not less input when it comes to developments that affect them, particularly when it comes to access to green space.
Environmental Justice should not be just “buzz words” for politicians and scholars to casually throw out.
“Environmental justice is a social movement and policy framework aimed at ensuring that all individuals and communities, regardless of their race, ethnicity, income, or social status, have the right to a healthy environment. It addresses the disproportionate environmental burdens faced by marginalized communities and seeks to promote equitable access to resources and decision-making processes.” EPA.gov
Massachusetts was the first state to write legislation that provides EJ communities with MORE input on how their parks and green spaces are developed. This law has yet to be implemented. Franklin Park sits in the middle of the designated EJ communities (Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, and portions of Jamaica Plain) and should be first example of how the State honors this law.
The map below illustrates in orange the environmental justice communities that surround Franklin Park. This map was developed by the Franklin Park Defenders.
The map below illustrates the communities in eastern Massachusetts who are designated EJ by various categories. This was developed by mass.gov
