A Community's Reality

Documenting the impact of localized drug use on the residents and families of Franklin Park.

What started me on this journey was a simple, middle-of-the-day visit with my toddler to the Williams St. entrance of Franklin Park. About 100 feet into the park, within an opening on the left, three individuals appeared to be having a picnic. My son repeatedly said "sleep" and ran towards them. They were actively shooting up heroin.

A day after observing this, I returned and found over a dozen needles in the exact same area, scattered near a child's toy. I couldn't help but wonder: "Would my toddler be able to tell the difference between a blood-filled syringe and a toy when left side by side?"

This encounter made me hyper-vigilant. I started noticing the evidence everywhere—needles, addipaks, syringe caps. I decided to pull the available Boston 311 data to see if what I was observing was statistically real or just my own emotional bias. I built this site to share the reality of what our park is experiencing.

View Curated Photo Gallery →
A used needle lying next to a child's toy in Franklin Park
A syringe discarded next to a toy near the Williams St. entrance.

Needle Pickup Dashboard

Automated 311 data tracking recent needle reports around the Franklin Park area.

Impact Analysis: Before & After

A direct comparison of 311 needle pickup calls before and after the installation of low-threshold housing in our neighborhoods.

Note on the Data: During colder months, there will naturally be fewer needles and calls. There is also a slight lag after these facilities open, as units take time to fill and localized drug-selling patterns take time to establish.

Shattuck Campus (Franklin Park)

Comparing needle pickup density before and after the conversion of the Shattuck cottages and Pine St Inn to low-threshold housing.

Pre-Shattuck Installation

Post-Shattuck Installation

enVision Hotel (Washington St.)

Comparing needle pickup density before and after the opening of 41 low-threshold beds managed by Victory Programs (opened concurrently with the Shattuck cottages).

Pre-enVision Opening

Post-enVision Opening

Identifying Signs of Nearby Use

While needles are an obvious hazard, these other items strongly indicate active drug use in the immediate vicinity. Do not touch these items if found.

Addipaks

Addipaks

Small packets of sterilized water used to dissolve heroin. They are frequently found in pink or blue. Seeing these is a strong indicator of nearby injection activity.

Syringe Caps

Syringe Caps

Usually bright orange, these caps are rarely placed back onto the needle after use. A discarded cap almost always means a live needle is hidden nearby in the grass or leaves.

Encampment Debris

Encampment Debris

Clusters of scattered clothing, trash, and bottles often mark day-use spots. These areas frequently contain multiple discarded needles and paraphernalia.

Found a Needle? Report it via 311

Do not attempt to pick up needles yourself. The City of Boston has dedicated DPW teams (Dana, Leroy, David, and others) who safely dispose of them.

1. Get the App Download the free "BOS:311" app on iOS or Android.
2. Take a Photo Open the app, select "Needle Pickup," and take a clear photo of the location.
3. Send GPS Ensure location services are on. The exact GPS coordinates make cleanup drastically faster for the city crew.

Historical Archive: Shattuck Campus Proposal

In previous years, Boston Medical Center (BMC) proposed developing an 850+ person opioid use disorder campus at the 13-acre Shattuck Hospital site inside Franklin Park. This proposal included 405 permanent supportive housing units and 120 low-threshold beds.


The communities surrounding the park engaged in widespread advocacy, voicing serious concerns regarding the sheer scale of the concentration, the impact on public parkland, and equity issues regarding where the city places its most intense services. As a result of this community response, the BMC proposal is no longer moving forward. The heatmaps and data on this site originally served to highlight the severe impacts that the initial 54 low-threshold cottages had on the park, informing the community's pushback against further massive expansion.

View the Historical Timeline →