TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need Northern Regional police seek photos for website The Northern Regional Police Department is looking for the community’s assistance as it delves into its history The department is on the hunt for any photos that capture its journey — from past police chiefs and department vehicles to memorable moments in the four communities it serves: Bradford Woods The images will be included on the department’s website send your snapshots to Chief Bryan DeWick at bdewick@nrpolice.com Franklin Park police provides free child seat checks The Franklin Park Police Department has two officers who are certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians certified through NHTSA and Safe Kids Worldwide can can assist caregivers in the proper use of child passenger seats and Pennsylvania law associated with them The appointments take about 45 minutes to complete call the police department at 412-364-1227 during regular business hours from 8 a.m Marshall to host Heartsaver CPR/AED course Instructors from the McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority will teach an American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR and AED course at 6 p.m The course will cover CPR and AED use on infants children and adults; choking relief for all ages; and how to administer Narcan email Mandy Cousins at mandy.cousins@mfpaa.org Franklin Park has a Memorial Donation Program which enables people to donate a park bench or tree in memory dedication or celebration of a loved one or special person Memorials are expected to enhance the parks golf course or municipal building without hindering the quality of the open space • Bench donation: The cost of a park bench donation is $1,200 which includes a 6-foot recycled plastic bench • Tree donation: The cost of a tree donation is $600 and includes a tree to be determined by borough staff Interested donors should contact the borough offices for more information or view the Memorial Donation Program Policy and Procedures and Memorial Program Donation Request Form available on the borough’s website at franklinparkborough.us Donors must download and complete the Memorial Donation Request Form in its entirety and submit it to the borough by mail to the address listed on the form or email it to Donna Platt at dplatt@franklinparkborough.us email Platt at dplatt@franklinparkborough.us Hampton Presbyterian Church is hosting its 10th car cruise from 11 a.m The event is free and will feature family-friendly fun a concession stand and music by DJ Denny Dutko All makes and models of vehicles are welcome There will be a section roped off for children’s crafts and games Attendees are encouraged to bring their own tables email hamptonpresoutreach@gmail.com or call the church office at 724-443-3201 Additional information is available on the church’s website at hamptonpresbyterian.net YASU expands Distribution Days to cancer center Starting in May and continuing on a monthly basis Young Adult Survivors United is bringing its Distribution Days to UPMC’s Hillman Cancer Center in collaboration with social workers at the Shadyside facility The care packages — containing toiletries and household items — provide essential and community support for an often underserved population Any young adult (18 to 45) in the United States who has been diagnosed with cancer can register for free membership to access YASU’s virtual services Survivors in Southwestern Pennsylvania have access to virtual and in-person support groups and social activities financial literacy workshops in conjunction with financial assistance free “Rae of Hope” respite trips and an annual Women’s Wellness Retreat The main Distribution Days take place at YASU’s office in Wexford The Distribution Days program is made possible through a partnership with the Christian Cochran Legacy Fund which honors the memory of Christian Cochran who died from cholangiocarcinoma in 2021 at the age of 23 Community members can contribute to YASU’s Distribution Days in several ways: • Join the Be Their Hero campaign by signing up once • Purchase items on YASU’s Amazon Wish List and they will be delivered directly to the organization’s office • Drop off items at YASU’s office at 1000 Brooktree Road PA 15090; call 724-719-2273 to coordinate a drop-off time visit yasurvivors.org or call 724-719-2273 Certified instructor Carolyn Spear will teach yoga asana at 9 a.m May 10 and 24 near the pavilion in Devlin Park This style of yoga is perfect for beginners The cost is $10 for McCandless residents and $15 for nonresidents To register, visit the township’s website at townofmccandless.org, click on the Departments tab in the menu and select Parks & Recreation. Registration for Yoga in the Park takes place through the CivicRec site at https://secure.rec1.com/PA/mccandless-pa/catalog You must have a CivicRec account to register select the McCandless Parks and Recreation tab on CivicRec The McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority is hosting an open house from noon to 3 p.m Every wonder what an EMS station looks like The public is invited to tour the station and check out the inside of an ambulance A patient and crew recognition ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m McCandless GOP Committee offering scholarships The McCandless Republican Committee is announcing scholarship opportunities for 2025 graduating seniors from North Allegheny High School The committee will award two $1,000 scholarships one for students pursuing higher education and the other to a student entering a skilled trade or technical training program Students are encouraged to complete an application with supporting documentation Applications can be found at https://mccandless.gop and students will be recognized during the June 17 meeting of the McCandless Republican Committee To contribute to the McCandless Republican Committee Scholarship Fund Student leaders sought for environmental program Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Seeking Student Leaders for Young Ambassadors Program is seeking civic and environmental leaders in 10th through 12th grades to keep Pennsylvania clean and beautiful through the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania program The Young Ambassadors program empowers young community stewards and civic leaders to become ambassadors in their community for a shared vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania Ambassadors will have the oppurtunity to train and network with industry leaders local media and the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful network They will recieve a taste of life in the public service sector “I’ve been in public service a long time and I can say that community leaders are the key difference makers between getting things done and just talking about it,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said “Every new generation has more to lose with enviornmental damage so I invite every young Pennsylvanian to be part of the solution.” Applications are being accepted through June 10 Students will be chosen through a competitive application process visit keeppabeautiful.org or contact Kylie McCutcheon at 724-836-4121 Adults invited to learn how to play tennis McCandless is offering an Intro to Tennis Clinic from 10 a.m to noon May 10 at Devlin Park for adults who would like to learn how to play the sport This class for beginners (18 and older) will teach them the proper grips andprovide an introduction to basic topspin forehand and backhand Equipment will be provided for the class by the U.S To register, visit the township’s website at townofmccandless.org, click on the Departments tab in the menu and select Parks & Recreation. Registration for the Tennis Clinic takes place through the CivicRec site at https://secure.rec1.com/PA/mccandless-pa/catalog The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage & Cultural Center is offering a free lecture and tour of the Allegheny Observatory The lecture will take place from 7 to 9 p.m the observatory’s outreach coordinator science and historic significance of the structure The field trip to the observatory for a building tour will take place at 8 p.m attendees will be able to use the Fitz/Clark telescope to view the moon and Mars To register, visit the township’s website at townofmccandless.org, click on the Departments tab in the menu and select Parks & Recreation. Registration for the HCC Lecture Series takes place through the CivicRec site at https://secure.rec1.com/PA/mccandless-pa/catalog Summer festival set for Blueberry Hill Park The community is encouraged to mark their calendars for Franklin Park’s annual Festival in the Park June 28 on the lower fields at Blueberry Hill Park The event will include inflatable fun for all ages A fireworks display will be held around 9:30 p.m Cleaning products sought to help people in need North Hills Community Outreach currently is collecting cleaning products through June 8 to stock its pantries Donations can be dropped off at any of its three offices from 9 a.m Other locations are NHCO Millvale on the second floor of the Millvale Community Center and at NHCO North Boroughs at Greenstone Methodist Church Items needed include laundry detergent (under 100 ounces) rolls of paper towels and canvas shopping bags Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits cannot be used for cleaning products Such items are a necessity and often pose an expense that many low-income families are unable to afford Each family in need receives a bag containing the above products Donations also can be ordered from NHCO’s Amazon wishlist or Walmart wishlist and sent directly to its office The Pennsylvania Resources Council is kicking off its 2025 hard-to-recycle collections in Allegheny County with an event from 9 a.m The presenting sponsor of this event is the Allegheny County Health Department Other sponsors of the 2025 campaign are the Allegheny County Parks Department Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Participants must register in advance at prc.org/CollectionEvents or by calling 412-488-7490 There is a $5 participation fee to drop off unlimited cellphones computer towers and peripheral equipment such as keyboards Also accepted will be expanded polystyrene packaging material For an additional fee, people can recycle televisions, computer monitors, printers, fluorescent tubes, small Freon appliances and tires (with and without rims). Visit PRC’s website at prc.org for a complete price list Remembrance Run to benefit veterans set at boathouse The Veterans Leadership Program is organizing its second annual Memorial Day Remembrance Run on May 24 at the North Park Boathouse held in partnership with GCXC Racing Pittsburgh aims to raise awareness and support for Western Pennsylvania vetreans Early bird and active-duty/veteran discounts are available The early bird price before May 23 for the 5K is $35 for civilians and $30 for active-duty personnel or veterans; for the 10K it’s $50 for civilians and $40 for military members and veterans Prices will increase by $5 for civilians after May 23 To register to run or walk, visit runsignup.com/Race/PA/AllisonPark/MemorialDayRemembranceRun If your company or organization would like to be a sponsor The Veterans Leadership Program provides housing wellness and supportive services to veterans and their families residing in the Pittsburgh Butler and Erie Veterans Administration Medical Center catchment areas the program assisted 7,287 veterans and their family members across 30 counties in Western and Central Pennsylvania The Rich-Mar Rotary is seeking donations of no-longer-needed medical equipment during Richland’s annual Trunk Sale from 8 a.m to noon May 17 at the Richland Township Municipal Building blood pressure monitors (home use and nonmercury) The Rotary distributes the items to those who are less fortunate Franklin Park looking for junior council member Franklin Park seeks resumes from borough high school students to participate in its Junior Councilperson Program is designed to encourage juniors and seniors to participate in local government and to provide their perspective and input The program will run for the duration of the 2025-26 school year To learn more, visit franklinparkborough.us/281/Junior-Councilperson-Program Any Franklin Park high school junior or senior interested in the position should submit a letter of interest and/or resume to Franklin Park Borough PA 15237 or by email to dplatt@franklinparkborough.us The HPC Big Band is back in the swing of things The community is invited to attend the “All That Jazz” Swing Dance from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m All ages are welcome dust off their dancing shoes and join us relax and enjoy the music from across the decades Free swing dance lessons will be given by professional instructor Jared Clemens from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. including hot and cold snacks and hors d’oeuvres will be available and is included in the ticket price call Karen Schmidt at 412-867-6416 or the church office at 724-443-3201 call the church or visit its website at hamptonpresbyterian.net Mark your calendars for Longvue Acres Garden Club’s 75th perennial plant sale from 9 a.m to noon May 17 in the lower parking lot of Northmont United Presbyterian Church The cash-only sale will feature more than 600 perennial plants including highly valued Pennsylvania natives and pollinators Because the plants are grown in members’ gardens and donated for the sale it is always a surprise to see the variety of plants available from year to year Avid gardeners typically arrive early to snag the most sought-after plants Heirloom seed packets and annuals will be given away as part of the 75th anniversary celebration and in recognition of loyal customer support Patrons are invited to peruse the free table for gently used gardening items or chat with one of the knowledgeable Penn State Master Gardeners who will be on hand They and other club members are always available to answer gardening questions and help with plant selections Proceeds from the sale fund monthly educational programs for the public and support the maintenance of the UPMC Passavant chapel garden funds raised during the plant sale support not only the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Botanic Gardens of Western Pennsylvania and North Area Environmental Council but also local community gardens in McCandless and Ross The Longvue Acres Garden Club meets at 7 p.m the fourth Tuesday of each month at Northmont United Presbyterian Church contact longvueacresgardenclub1950@gmail.com Ingomar Garden Club organizing annual plant sale The Ingomar Garden Club is planning its annual Fundraising Plant Sale from 9 a.m May 10 at the Town Green at McCandless Crossing herbs and vegetables will be available for purchase Proceeds will benefit the club’s philanthropic and beautifcation efforts For details, visit ingomar-garden-club.com Free lecture to discuss community forestry The Environmental Advisory Committee in McCandless is hosting a free lecture at 7 p.m Joe Stavish of Tree Pittsburgh will discuss the meaning and importance of community foretsry and how residents can participate will share information about Tree Pittsburgh’s Heritage Nursery and local native trees Attendees will learn about the environmental services provided by trees diseases and what steps they to take to help rebuild the town’s tree canopy For details and to register, visit secure.rec1.com/PA/mccandless-pa/catalog and click on EAC Programs The Sealarks Women’s Group will meet at 1 p.m Carol Kunz will present a program about “The Great Pittsburgh Fire of 1845.” Sealarks provides Christian fellowship and social activity for women who are alone — widowed These women are welcome to attend and consider joining the group Registration is open for a special-needs dance to start the summer hosted by the Recreation Alliance of North Pittsburgh Ages 8 and older and all abilities are welcome Music will be at a lower volume for the first hour of each dance for those who might be more sensitive to louder volumes • The Summer Kick-Off dance will be from 6 to 8 p.m May 23 at the Elias Fry Barn in Knob Hill Community Park To register, visit ranp.recdesk.com/community/program in partnership with the Northern Regional Police Department and Marshall leaders will present free workshops for teens and their parents or guardians throughout the year The workshops will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m 14 at the lower level of the Marshall Municipal Building The workshops will provide evidence-based strategies to keep teens safer on the road Attendees will learn about Graduated Driver Licensing The workshops are free thanks to funding by the NJM Insurance Group email Detective Tim Hohos at thohos@nrpolice.com Red Cross seeks volunteers in rural areas of Pa The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania is in need of volunteers in rural communities Help families after a home fire or other disaster by providing emotional support emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover Engage with blood donors by greeting them at blood drives providing information and assisting them at the refreshments table • Support community education and outreach Attend events and activities to raise awareness around home fire safety and emergency preparedness more than 3,400 volunteers supported the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania These volunteers provided care and comfort to families after more than 1,500 local disasters such as home fires and floods volunteers supported more than 5,000 local blood drives to help ensure patients had access to lifesaving blood To learn more and to volunteer, visit redcross.org/GPAvolunteer Animal Friends’ Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank has put out an urgent call for wet dog and cat food To help, browse its wish lists on Amazon or Chewy and your donation will be delivered to Animal Friends Unopened wet pet food also can be dropped off in the grey donation bins in the front entranceway and lobby of the shelter at 526 Camp Horne Road The Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank supports struggling pet owners throughout Allegheny County it distributed more than 17,000 pounds of free pet food to over 3,000 families last month For details, visit thinkingoutsidethecage.org/programs-services/chow-wagon Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com Stay up-to-date on important news from TribLIVE 1-800-909-8742 © 2025 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved About Us Advertise Career Opportunities Contact Advertising Contact Circulation Contact Newsroom Contact Us Feedback Request Correction Resource Center Scholarship Opportunities Send Letter to the Editor Send News Tip Subscribe Subscriber Services Blog eFeatures Email Newsletters eTrib Facebook Home Delivery Instagram LinkedIn Marketing Minute Store Locations TribLIVE App - App Store TribLIVE App - Google Play X (formerly Twitter) Arts & Entertainment Best of the Best Business Directory Circulars Contests Coronavirus Lifestyles Local News YaJagOff Obituaries Opinion Our Publications Photos Real Estate Sports Video Weather Cookie Settings Privacy Policy Terms of Service BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — This is a special time of year at Franklin Park Zoo staff wait in anticipation to see how many new prairie dog pups they'll welcome And there have been other years where we had 20 The baby boom they were waiting for finally arrived in April — 12 prairie dog pups — for now "We actually won't know how many babies we've had this year until well into May," said Linehan Their furry faces slowly emerged from their burrows to explore the world above after being underground for six weeks It's little marks on the fur where we did their physical We mark them so we know we got that one already." Franklin Park Zoo visitors can look forward to finding out the final count of the pups in a few weeks WBZ NewsRadio's Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) has more A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston The Franklin Park Action Plan identified changes to Circuit Drive.  The city is looking to implement traffic calming measures on Circuit Drive and make safer crossing for walkers and runners The project will also look at solving ongoing drainage problems along Circuit Drive SIGN UP FOR A FRANKLIN PARK EMAIL LIST amy.linne@boston.gov Is the Target boycott working? Artist Robert B. Stull has died at 58 City reaches out to entrepreneurs of color to apply for liquor licenses the Shawmut Peninsula looked onto a forested hillscape The hills held a secluded sylvan valley nearby: Franklin Park He called for a “depth of wood” for both “comfort in hot weather” and to “completely shut out the city from our landscapes.” Its attractions are not obvious to passersby such discovery was the story of his childhood in Boston my mother used to take me on the streetcar,” he recalled They’d disembark near Peabody Circle and visit the zoo “Living in Grove Hall,” Thompson believed “it was our park.” He said we could go to a concert.” He remembers kite festivals and cook-outs too he watched productions put on by Elma Lewis in The Playhouse “every night during the summertime.” The performances took place in “the ruins the foundation” of “an old field house that burned down in the ’40s.” In high school “I realized it was a lot more than just a zoo,” he said Franklin Park has hosted a New England cross country championship routinely since 1914 Thompson gets daily exercise walking in the park “you don’t realize you’re in the city anymore,” he said he developed a love for golf at Franklin Park his family hosts the Paula Titus Golf Outing there The William J Devine Memorial Golf Course in Franklin Park is the second oldest public golf course in the nation Titus described the golf course as “beautiful” and “marvelous.” With “fescue and sand traps,” its challenges are “just different.” “New Boston,” he said is “playing at Franklin Park.” Especially “a lot of young professionals living in South Boston.” For the “condition of the course and the price to play,” he said “you’re just not going to get that value anywhere else.” have “been playing the course for years.” He credits Rudy Cabral of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department Franklin Park held a “lottery for memberships.” golf is played between puddingstone ledges and old growth trees Titus mentioned playing past cookouts and pedestrians walking through fairways “People in the immediate neighborhoods and community feel like it’s their park,” said the long-time UMass Boston athletics director for UMass Amherst’s Olmsted scholar Ethan Carr is “the shrine of Black golf in Boston.” Perhaps Carr consulted on the Franklin Park Action Plan He acknowledged the “interface” between golfers and pedestrians could improve “There are places where the golf course could be more open to people.” “has never been as big an imposition on people enjoying the park” as commonly thought Course construction barely altered what Olmsted preserved the surrounding neighborhoods were built out Boston’s dense urban core was sprawling through Roxbury Balancing between separatist and annexationists An urban-suburban edge of parkland — the Arnold Arboretum and the Emerald Necklace — ensued Boston outgrew Jamaica Pond’s water supply The capital procured water from Lake Cochituate Roxbury Historian Byron Rushing explained “what drew the towns into annexation was the plans to have indoor plumbing.” Until then Bostonians “rich or poor,” the retired lawmaker said When the legislature established the nation’s first regional wastewater system Old streets and landmarks memorialize the residents who lived in these fringe areas The first street to Blue Hill Avenue after Seaver bore the name of the Williams family They “owned tons of Roxbury between Seaver Street and down to Walnut Avenue,” Rushing said “those are descendants of the Williamses who built that.” Rushing said they built the building where Citizens Bank operates in Dudley Station one of the park’s few structures was Ellicott Arch Its rough-boulder exterior carries circuit drive over a walkway into the Country Park with Olmsted and horticulturalist William Fischer were the “most important designers of Franklin Park,” Carr said Named to honor Benjamin Franklin’s bequest to the city of Boston Franklin Park “was mostly built between 1885 and The revolutionary diplomat’s fortune matured after 100-and 200-years They started playing golf in 1896,” Carr said “Landscapes aren’t like other works of design,” said the historian “you don’t just have one person design it.” Franklin Park is “constantly changing” depending on “who uses it and who loves it.” The 20th century saw demographic change in the surrounding neighborhoods. Richard Heath’s 1985 history of Franklin Park chronicles the ad hoc polity Roxbury and North Dorchester were almost exclusively Black communities,” Heath wrote began devoting her efforts to Franklin Park in 1969 Boston stopped maintaining Franklin Park,” said Carr “white Boston stopped using Franklin Park.” Rickie Thompson said FPC’s work echoed prior neighborhood action The “predominantly Jewish” neighbors in Grove Hall “brought their own lawn mowers out and cut the lawn on the golf course.” Black residents were doing “kind of the same thing.” The busing era strife was cruel to the landscape Louise Day Hicks held up nearly $1 million she questioned whether the money “would benefit all the people of our city.” She said “our people can’t even go into” Franklin Park “It was abandoned by white Boston and officially by the city of Boston,” said Carr there were only nine holes open because the rest of it was just in a total state of disrepair,” Titus remembered the mission remains “to make Franklin Park a destination for people from across the city.” Forty-five years ago last week the Boston Landmarks Commission approved a report to designate Franklin Park as an official landmark Safety improvements will be coming soon to the Franklin Park Bear Dens The community engagement process took place in 2024 and presentation materials are available below Construction is anticipated to start in late spring 2025 The focus of this project will be to make conditions safe for visitors as a first phase of improvements.  Sign up for a Franklin Park Email list The design team presented an analysis of existing conditions A community engagement meeting for Franklin Park Bear Dens where the design team presented recommendations for safety improvements to the Bear Dens Community Meeting Recording (January 4, 2024) - Interpretation (Cape Verdean Creole) Community Meeting Recording (January 4, 2024) - Interpretation (Español) Community Meeting Recording (January 4, 2024) - Interpretation (Haitian Creole) Community Meeting Recording (January 4, 2024) - Interpretation (Mandarin) Community Meeting Recording (January 4, 2024) - Interpretation (Tiếng Việt) Community Meeting Recording (January 4, 2024) - Interpretation (Cantonese) Community Meeting Recording (March 14, 2024) - Interpretation (Cape Verdean Creole) Community Meeting Recording (March 4, 2024) - Interpretation (Español) Community Meeting Recording (March 4, 2024) - Interpretation (Haitian Creole) Community Meeting Recording (March 4, 2024) - Interpretation (Mandarin) Community Meeting Recording (March 4, 2024) - Interpretation (Tiếng Việt) Community Meeting Recording (March 4, 2024) - Interpretation (Cantonese) There are no related events available at this time Sign up to receive updates about future meetings and events COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Inspired by the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands, a new exhibit titled "Orchids" at the Franklin Park Conservatory will explore five iconic landscapes that capture the essence of Hawaii’s natural beauty each landscape reflects the unique topography and cultural significance that define this island paradise Over 1,800 orchids are on display throughout the Conservatory through March 9 showcasing the tapestry of color and textures seen on the islands the Cardinal Health Gallery will undergo its own transformation into an immersive butterfly coloring experience Guests are invited to color their own butterfly and then watch their creation come alive into a digital environment The Blooms & Butterflies exhibit opens this weekend and runs through July 6 For more information about the Conservatory or purchase tickets, click here Mayor Michelle Wu announced that care and custody of the Franklin Park Bear Dens will return to the Boston Parks Department after years of management by Zoo New England This acquisition follows a unanimous Boston Parks Commission vote on Monday The transfer of the historic Bear Dens to the City reflects Mayor Wu’s commitment to expanding green space and parkland in Boston and making Boston the best city for families “Franklin Park is our crown jewel of green space in Boston and we’re committed to preserving and enhancing it for generations to come,” said Mayor Michelle Wu “The transfer of the Bear Dens to the City is an opportunity to invest in a corner of the park with great potential We look forward to working with community to further carry out the Franklin Park Action Plan at the Bear Dens and throughout this historic park.” “The bear dens have historical significance to Franklin Park Zoo and the City of Boston,” said John Linehan “It’s been more than 50 years since the bear dens which are well outside the current perimeter of the Zoo and we’re looking forward to the creative re-use of this space in the future.” The Franklin Park Bear Dens are historic remnants of the old Franklin Park Zoo located in the Long Crouch Woods area within Franklin Park Built between 1911-1912 these stone enclosures once housed black bears and polar bears as part of the original zoo’s exhibits The dens were last utilized in the 1970s but remain a unique architectural feature in the park offering visitors a glimpse into the park’s history Though the zoo has since relocated to the modern Franklin Park Zoo the dens are a reminder of Franklin Park’s evolution.  “The Franklin Park Bear Dens are a key part of the park’s unique history and we are thrilled to have them return to the care of the Boston Parks Department,” said Interim Parks Commissioner Liza Meyer “This transfer opens exciting possibilities to restore the space and reimagine it in ways that reflect both the park’s legacy and the needs of the community today We look forward to engaging with residents as we develop plans to transform the Bear Dens into a welcoming and accessible destination for all.” With care and custody officially transferred back to the City of Boston the Boston Parks and Recreation Department looks forward to exploring options with the community to restore the ruins and improve public access.  “The Franklin Park Coalition is excited to see the long-neglected Bear Dens transferred to the city,” said Rickie Thompson “Much needed safety improvements and restoration can begin The site has the potential to be a beautiful landscape feature honoring an important part of the park's history dating to 1912 - as identified in the bas relief of two bears encircling the city seal.”  This transfer aligns closely with the goals of Boston’s Franklin Park Action Plan The Franklin Park Action Plan details goals to amplify magnet destinations in the park including restoring the Bear Dens to stabilize and restore its defining features while integrating new space for programming within the framework of the den Following immediate safety and structural improvements the Boston Parks and Recreation Department looks forward to engaging with community members to map out ideas for future programming and additional improvements.  For more information about the Franklin Park Bear Dens, please contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 635-4505. Stay updated with news, events, and park improvements by signing up for our email list at bit.ly/Get-Parks-Emails and following our social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. <Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection> EmailWhite Stadium in Boston's Franklin Park (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)As the quarterback for the storied Boston Latin Academy Jack Shapiro has long relished playing some of his high school games at historic White Stadium the closest Shapiro will get to the 75-year-old stadium is a grassy practice field in the shadows of the 10,000-seat facility The stadium gates are padlocked most days in anticipation of the dilapidated stadium being renovated $200 million sports facility for Boston's new professional women's soccer team “We’re all a little disappointed not to have our home this year,” said Shapiro quarterback and safety for the high school team which was forced to play its home games in West Roxbury The city’s school system will have access to the new facility but Boston Latin and another school will play elsewhere The team said it is still hopeful of playing some games at the new stadium but that remains far from certain The city has said that Latin and another high school team which rely on White Stadium for home games will have to play elsewhere due to potential damage to the playing surface from cleats But they have promised that all city schools could play end of season games "The biggest worry is that we will be blocked out," the team's coach what is behind us will not only be a monument for high school football but also maybe a tombstone.” A sign marking an entrance to White Stadium in Boston (Steven Senne/AP)Will Boston lose critical green space?Shapiro and his team are part of the growing opposition to the joint venture that includes preservationists environmentalists and neighborhood activists Many opponents fear the public would lose access to the stadium and the critical green space where it sits if the city teams up with a corporate entity Supporters argue their plan is the best hope to bringing women's professional soccer to Boston and providing new equipment and facilities for the city's cash-strapped school system Surrounded by some of the most diverse and impoverished neighborhoods, White Stadium has long been a refuge for residents to take morning walks, play high school sports, see concerts, attend rallies or send their children to summer camps. The nearly 530-acre Franklin Park, which is also home to the Franklin Park Zoo is part of the Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace system of parks in the city who lives across the street from the park and is party to the lawsuit attempting to halt the project said the project will cause “enormous harm to the environment and the community." The lawsuit argues the process to approve the project was rushed without adequate community input and violates the state constitution by transferring public land for a private use Opponents also argue the thousands of fans attending BOS Nation FC games would overwhelm the park and cause widespread traffic and noise problems to nearby neighborhoods they are pushing for repairing the stadium for students at a cost of less than $20 million “The changes that they want to make is going to destroy the antiquities of the park going to change the character of the park,” said Elisa president of the Garrison-Trotter Neighborhood Association Looking across Boston's Franklin Park toward the city on a fall evening (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)Women's soccer in the heart of the citySupporters argue the partnership is the only way to fund much-needed renovations and would bring positive change to the neighborhood and the students who rely on facility Repeated efforts in recent decades to repair the stadium have faltered over a lack of funds design concerns and neighborhood opposition The stadium will be controlled by the city’s schools but the cost of operating and maintaining it will be the team's responsibility “The stadium has been in bad need of repairs and renovation for a very long time the facilities aren't up to state standards adding that the project aligns with the purpose of the park which has areas of urban wilds meant for quiet enjoyment and other parts like the stadium that “were meant to draw people in.” “This will revitalize the mission that we've always had for White Stadium to be a hub for our young people for our student athletes and the community around them,” she continued the controlling owner of the team which will play in the National Women’s Soccer League said the stadium project allows for the team to “play in the heart of the city” and forge a closer ties to the school system and the community is moving forward on a new Boston-based facility of their own “This public-private-community partnership is really exciting and it's going to turn White Stadium into a top tier professional stadium,” Epstein said “It will be a real thrill for everyone to be there." The debate over the stadium has played out at scores of meeting and hundreds of conversations over the past 17 months supporters have won every round of the permitting process and the city is hoping to sign a lease in the coming weeks and for demolition to start soon after People rally to save White Stadium on Sept supporters have run into unexpected challenges Wu acknowledged this week that the city's price tag for the renovation — the cost are being split evenly between the team and the city — has nearly doubled to $91 million due to design changes and rising construction costs with supporters warning in court documents that any delays to the March trial on the lawsuit puts the project at risk Supporters are optimistic the lawsuit will eventually be dismissed The team is also seeking input on the team name after its “Too Many Balls” marketing campaign launched in October was criticized as transphobic the team said it has launched a process to “seek out and reflect on input about our team name." who say they want a professional women's team but not in Franklin Park nevertheless are relishing the latest bout of bad publicity “We are more confident than ever that Franklin Park will be protected from their scheme to turn this historic parkland into a colossal sports and entertainment complex.” Renee Stacy Welsh A renewed and renovated Acorn Park in Franklin Park should have much of its new features ready for play by May according to borough Manager Rege Ebner Jr were greatly needed and will be a welcome addition for residents “Acorn Park previously consisted of an older playground an asphalt pad that was occasionally used for street hockey a small parking area and informal trails that required passing through Little Sewickley Creek limited seating areas and no ADA accessibility,” said Ebner referring to the Americans with Disabilities Act standards the park was very underutilized,” he said The new features hoped to be finished by May include new a mountain bike pump track with bike wash and an outdoor classroom gazebo with bench seating A new entryway from the road leads to increased parking and permeable pavers used for parking spaces The borough also is planning a rain garden to capture and control runoff from the parking lot and pump track The park will have electricity and Wi-Fi access New public restrooms are expected to be ready by June The approximately $1.7 million project was funded by a $662,328 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources The borough also received a $215,000 grant from the Gaming and Economic Development Tourism Fund was awarded the contract for the majority of the work An ADA-accessible trail connecting the parking lot to the outdoor classroom also should be completed by May along with formalized walking and biking trails running throughout the property with two bridge crossings over Little Sewickley Creek and observation decks and benches at various points along the trails Other trail work and final landscaping should be done by fall Since the project required the removal of about 75 trees because of oak wilt Franklin Park is committed to revegetating the area This includes adding 17 trees and 42 shrubs in the area that has been disturbed 227 shrubs and 361 perennials in two locations along Little Sewickley Creek to improve the riparian buffer and protect the health of the stream Replanting efforts also will be expanded to Franklin Park’s additional three parks The borough recently ordered 70 trees and shrubs from Tree Pittsburgh Heritage Nursery to be planted this spring The remainder of the required trees and shrubs will be planted this fall and next spring the borough is home to Blueberry Park along Blaine’s Way Linbrook Park along Big Sewickley Creek Road and Old Orchard Park along Rochester Road Franklin Park is in the process of updating its 2015 Comprehensive Recreation This will help shape renovations to the other parks the borough has acquired one property adjacent to Acorn Park four properties adjacent to Blueberry Hill Park and three properties adjacent to Linbrook Park “Through the process of updating our plan we intend to incorporate those properties into our park system and we expect to include the development of a master site plan for the property adjacent to Acorn Park We will identify areas of improvement in all of our parks as part of our updated plan,” Ebner said the only other park improvements identified for 2025 is the replacement of the roof on the activity center and the football concession building in Blueberry Hill Park They will be replaced with metal roofs and allow for consideration of solar panels to provide electricity for the park The borough has received a $60,000 local share account grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority to help with this project Other projects include rebuilding the tee boxes on the first and second holes on the disc golf course in Linbrook Park — a first step toward improving the course The planting of native trees and shrubs will continue at Old Orchard Park to reduce the areas of mowed grass that are not used for recreational purposes Old Orchard closed its pickleball courts in 2023 because of noise issues Ebner said these will be removed or repurposed based on recommendations that come from the updated comprehensive recreational park and open space plan Ebner said residents should consider getting involved in the plan update process “We will be seeking substantial public participation throughout the year Residents will have a chance to learn more about our parks and make recommendations on ways they can be improved,” he said Natalie Beneviat is a Trib Total Media contributing writer The Franklin Park Zoo in Boston is mourning one of its beloved primates this week The zoo reported that there was "a rapid decline" in Kitombe's health on Wednesday noting an exam was performed on the gorilla to determine what could be the source of the primate's recent health issues “We are devastated to share the news of Kit’s passing," Zoo New England President and CEO John Linehan stated in a release this week "He has been part of our zoo family for more than 25 years and will be deeply missed by the staff who has cared for him for so many years He was an incredible father to his five offspring with his mate Kiki and it was a joy to watch his gentle interactions with them We hope that people will keep Kit’s care team in their thoughts during this sad time.” How old was Kitombe at the time of his passing?He was 38 years old at the time of his death That is considered to be "geriatric" for a gorilla Did Kitombe have health issues previous to his death?Zoo officials explained in a statement that Kitombe had been suffering from a chronic cough What was ultimately the cause of death?A statement from the zoo said that the exam on Kitombe on Thursday included chest radiographs "The decision was made to humanely euthanize him due to his poor prognosis and serious quality-of-life concerns," zoo officials said in a written statement and had been living there with five other gorillas Aziza and Pablo who also reside at Franklin Park Zoo," a release said "Their oldest two reside at other zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums." Where was Kitombe born?According to the GorillasLand website, Kitombe was born in captivity at the Audubon Zoo in Lousiana on Sept He lived at that zoo until being transferred to the Franklin Park Zoo in 1998 Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered in the wild, according to the Franklin Park Zoo. "Populations can be found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea as well as in large areas in Gabon and the Republic of Congo," according to the World Wildlife Fund. These gorillas are slightly smaller than other types, with traits like brownish-grey coats and auburn chests. They also have wider skulls than other gorillas, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Dozens of Bostonians packed into the city council chamber on Wednesday for a day-long marathon of public comment — mostly against — the stadium plan "Keep Franklin Park Public." Only a handful spoke in favor of the city's plan The public-private plan — which would reimagine the stadium for both community use and as a home pitch for a professional women's soccer team — has drawn vocal opposition Mayor Michelle Wu argues the plan provides necessary funding to renovate the crumbling stadium, which is currently operated by Boston Public Schools. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy along with neighborhood advocates have sued the city saying it is trying to transfer public land to a private party Residents at Wednesday's hearing were upset there wasn't more neighborhood involvement in the plan a 45-year resident of Jamaica Plain and plaintiff in the current suit said she knew the city timeline for the project was inching closer she said the news of the demolition starting this week was a "gut punch." "We don't understand why the state continues to force this plan down our throats when so many community members are against it," Hamel said The Boston Planning & Development Agency's deputy chief of urban design said the group has tried to be transparent and involve the neighborhood "We care deeply about delivering something that benefits students and benefits the community," Diana Fernandez Bibeau said at the hearing president of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy said there's a difference between asking people to provide feedback on an already-designed proposal and communities having power to make meaningful decisions "The city of Boston has a tradition of sometimes starting off on the wrong foot but maybe getting back on the right one," Mauney-Brodek said Last month, the Boston Globe reported that the estimated price tag on the project shot up to nearly $200 million — nearly double the original cost, half of which the city is on the hook for. Councilor Benjamin Weber, who represents a district bordering Franklin Park, said it's up to the mayor's office to defend construction costs, but that a renovated White Stadium would be a great resource for everyone in the city. "The mayor's office has made a good case for this being the proposal that's going to finally get [the renovation] done after decades of neglect," Weber said. "What we're seeing today is a culmination of a year of engagement on the issue." Critics argued the funds could be better spent on other public priorities, including a less expensive renovation of the existing facility that does not include the professional soccer league's involvement. "This project is the antithesis of what Franklin Park stands for," said Carlen Singmaster, a spokesperson for the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, in a statement. "It prioritizes private profit over public good, at a significant ecological cost." The city expects to take out more than 100 trees for the demolition, according to a press statement. At-Large City Councilor Julia Mejia, who acted as the meeting's president, said she would file a resolution for councilors to vote on whether or not they supported the project at the next public meeting. Rachell Sanchez-Smith WBUR Newsroom FellowRachell Sanchez-Smith is a WBUR newsroom fellow. EmailThe White Stadium site in Franklin Park where demolition of the old stadium is under way (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)Demolition of White Stadium in Franklin Park can continue delivering Boston Mayor Michelle Wu a legal and political victory as she heads into her reelection campaign Traducido en español por El Planeta, Boston's Latino daily. Suffolk Superior Court Judge Matthew Nestor said the $200 million public-private project did not violate Article 97 a state law that protects public parkland from redevelopment unless it gets a two-thirds vote in the state Legislature "Notwithstanding the testimony from nearby residents, there is simply inadequateevidence that the everyday use of the property evinces an unequivocal intent to dedicate the property as public parkland," Nestor wrote in his decision that the Stadium Parcel is not protected by Article 97." Wu has invested a lot of political capital into the proposal which will transform the stadium into a state-of-the-art facility for Boston student athletes and a professional women's soccer club The city has pledged to cover at least $91 million in construction costs as part of their deal with the team But controversy dominated the conversation since it was announced logistics and the privatization of a public space The lawsuit from the nonprofit Emerald Necklace Conservancy alleged the city violated state law by failing to obtain legislative approval under Article 97 The city’s lawyers argued that Article 97 does not apply to the stadium because it's legally classified as a schoolyard They also said the land is not being transferred to the National Women’s Soccer League team; the club has signed a 10-year lease to use the facility But the city had categorized the stadium as an Article 97 property in Boston's its Open Space and Recreation Plan for decades City attorney Alan Lipkind acknowledged that the paperwork had indeed been filed “Evidence will show you that that is a result of a mistake that was made by a park department employee,” he said “He says that when he made those statements in the open space plan he had not reviewed The conservancy had also said that the deal breaches the George Robert White Fund the will that established the stadium in the fifties Nestor ruled that the conservancy did not have standing to challenge the city's interpretation of the will He reaffirmed that stance after opening statements Tuesday “The case before me isn’t to decide if this is a good or bad project What is before me is whether this land is protected by Article 97,” Nestor said Both sides agreed that the stadium needs significant repairs and investment. The city wrote that the stadium fails to meet modern building codes and accessibility standards Another Superior Court judge has already ruled against the conservancy, allowing the city to begin demolition in January Judge Sarah Ellis denied the group’s motion to pause work rejecting their argument that the project would limit student access The debate over the stadium and its costs have intensified the political battle between Wu and challenger Josh Kraft – becoming a key point in the mayoral run. Wu defended the project at her State of the City address. “Four years ago, BPS student athletes were left with a sports facility that was rarely open and had been crumbling for four decades," she said. "Today, we are renovating White Stadium into a world-class athletics hub.” With the lawsuit dismissed, the city is moving forward with construction. Demolition is already underway, and officials say the stadium’s renovation can be used in time for the National Women’s Soccer League season in March 2026. “I will never stop fighting for what our city kids deserve,” Wu said. Bruins Forward Mark Kastelic stops by Franklin Park Zoo to learn what it takes to be a Zookeeper Don Sweeney speaks to the media following the NHL Draft Lottery Bruins and Bob's deliver furniture to those in need. Paint the Ice presented by Benjamin Moore gave fans the chance to decorate the TD Garden ice. Cambridge Rindge High School students received a donation of power tools from Bosch. Girls Hockey Day presented by Wasabi Technologies promotes the growth of hockey in Boston. Sweeney discusses coaching search, Geekie contract, and offseason injury updates Jacobs, Neely, and Sweeney address the media at TD Garden Watch Bruins Academy: Season 10, Episode 4 Swayman talks with the media on Thursday morning at WIA H. Lindholm talks with the media on Thursday at WIA Sacco talks during end of season availability Geekie talks with the media on Thursday at WIA E. Lindholm talks with the media on Thursday at WIA Lohrei talks with the media on Thursday at WIA Mittelstadt talks on Thursday morning at WIA Koepke talks with the media on Thursday at WIA Beecher talks to the media on Thursday at WIA Korpisalo talks with the media on Thursday at WIA Bruins forward Morgan Geekie receives NESN's 7th Player Award for the 2024-25 season. today’s arguments will center over esoteric procedural complaints raised by the stadium opponents’ lawsuit On Beacon Hill: The House and Senate have agreed to (again) allow virtual or hybrid government meetings until at least the summer of 2027 The pandemic-era laws are currently set to expire at the end of this month but the House moved yesterday to push that date back to June 30 2027 — and the Senate plans to follow suit on Thursday P.S.— With rain in the forecast later this week, keep the boredom at bay with our staffers’ picks for places to have fun with friends indoors. All you have to do is sign up for another one of our newsletters with this link before March 21 and we’ll email you our go-to spots. 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range of topics Have a laugh and test your news knowledge while figuring out what's real and what we've made up It's Been a Minute features people in the culture who deserve your attention Plus weekly wraps of the news with journalists in the know Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers A radio journal of news and culture produced from a Latino perspective and offbeat features from Chicago and around the world with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior shape our choices and direct our relationships Your guide to examining how the media sausage is made Important ideas and practical advice: Code Switch features fearless and much-needed conversations about race—and Life Kit offers practical advice on things in life no one prepared you for Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX Reveal is public radio’s first one-hour radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting A weekly program presented by the New Yorker magazine’s editor killer beats and the edgiest new talent in storytelling come together for a weekly show that straps audiences into an audio rollercoaster Radiolab is known for its deep-dive journalism and innovative sound design Created in 2002 by former host Jad Abumrad the program began as an exploration of scientific inquiry Over the years it has evolved to become a platform for long-form journalism and storytelling Radiolab is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser A motorcyclist was killed in a crash April 14 A motorcyclist was killed in a crash early Monday as lanes remained shut down in suburban Franklin Park when a motorcycle and another vehicle were driving north on Mannheim Road from Belmont Avenue and collided Mannheim Road remained closed from Waveland Avenue to Grand Avenue for the crash investigation and motorists were asked to use York Road and 25th Avenue for travel The lane closures were expected to last several hours Terms of Use • Privacy Notice • Cookie Policy • Terms of Sale we can finally look forward to spring's warm weather And there's no better warm-weather experience than the flower blossoms at the Greater Columbus Cherry Blossom Festival warm temperatures and a display of pink and white blooms the event-filled commemoration for spring is ideal for bringing in the much-anticipated new season And this festival can be found ranked among six other stunning spring-flowering destinations to see blooms across the nation in a USA TODAY list. The fourth annual Greater Columbus Cherry Blossom Festival is expected to take place March 24 through April 15 from 10 a.m The festival takes place at various locations An event passport can be downloaded for more information on events and venues Guests can enjoy the cherry trees in Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and activities in the Greater Columbus area But that's not all Columbus has to offer, the Columbus Park of Roses has one of the largest public rose gardens in the U.S. with over 11,000 roses blooming in a 13-acre oasis The Scioto Mile riverfront park and German Village and Brewery District have beautiful scenes in spring with picturesque blooms and the perfect spots for walking (This story was updated to add new information.) abayo@dispatch.com BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new animal joined the Franklin Park Zoo family on Thursday arrived from Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange He is the first clouded leopard to reside in Franklin Park Zoo The Tropical Forest Pavilion habitat has been Jye's home since arriving and he has been closely monitored and taken care of by their animal control team The habitat was renovated in preparation for him with climbing trees Read More: City Council Votes To Make Boston Sanctuary City For LGBTQ+ Folks President and CEO of Zoo New England John Linehan shared his excitement about Jye's arrival "We are thrilled to introduce guests to Jye and are excited to share his story with our visitors," said John Linehan "Clouded leopards are beautiful cats native to tropical forests in Asia we can further connect guests to the incredible biodiversity of our planet We are eager for our visitors to learn more about Jye and how they can support the conservation of clouded leopards.” Clouded leopards are considered a vulnerable species which according to The International Union for Conservation of Nature means it's "considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild." due to habitat loss and poaching the zoo is participating in the Clouded Leopard Species Survival Plan Species Survival Plans allow for enhanced conservation to ensure the safety of vulnerable species like the clouded leopard Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. FORECASTChihuly Nights at Franklin Park Conservatory kicking off on Saturdayby WSYX Staff Ohio (WSYX) — The Franklin Park Conservatory is inviting guests to experience a unique collection of glass art by famous glass sculptor Dale Chihuly guests can check out 18 of Chihuly's glass artworks around the Conservatory Attendees can enjoy live music and guided tours of other art pieces within the conservatory There are eight scheduled Chihuly Nights in 2025 For more information, visit fpconservatory.org.