Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Inc.

PLEASE DO NOT SHARE WITH SHUN AND GREG. THIS IS A SURPRISE!

In thinking of ways to honor our beloved Shun, one of the first things that came to mind was a memorial at Jamaica Pond. The pond was a “third space” for Shun—a place for solo runs, walk-and-talks with friends or simply to sit and take in its natural beauty.

After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2024, Shun committed to walking the pond’s 1.5-mile loop several times a week to keep his body and mind strong. (Many of you reading this post probably did a lap with him at some point.) Even as his mobility got more limited, he turned to the pond for rest and reflection.

So it seems fitting that we celebrate our dear friend with a plaque at the pond. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy offers a program in which members of the public can “adopt” a heritage tree in honor of their loved one. That means that, for five years, a 100- to 200-year-old tree will be fitted with a plaque with Shun’s name and a quote, and will be lovingly tended to by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s tree preservation team.

The cost to dedicate a tree (including the plaque and tree care) is $5,000. It can be renewed or extended in five-year increments—so for example, if we raise $10,000, the tree will be cared for and dedicated to Shun for 10 years, etc. Once our goal is met, the funds will be transferred directly to the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and Greg and Shun will be able to choose a tree they love from a selection provided by the Conservancy.

Shun and Greg at Jamaica Pond, fall 2025.

Here’s a quick FAQ based on conversations with Tanya, the Conservancy’s major gift officer:

Can I share this GoFundMe publicly?

PLEASE DO NOT!

(Said with all the love in the world.)

In order to preserve the surprise, we ask that you please DO NOT share this link publicly without checking in with Megan first.

It’s important that this gift remain a surprise until the time is right to tell Shun and Greg; ideally when we've met our goal.

Why a tree?

Jamaica Pond is a beloved space for Shun, and a tree—which will change beautifully through each season—will also be a tangible object in a nearby space that Greg can visit whenever he wants.

How much is needed to adopt a tree, and how long is the dedication period?

$5,000 for five (5) years, with the option to extend the dedication (and therefore the care of the tree) in five-year increments. For example, if we raise $10k, the tree will be dedicated to Shun for 10 years, etc. Greg will receive a contract to sign and official paperwork from the Conservancy to confirm the dedication, length of time, etc.

Will there be a dedication ceremony when the plaque is ready?

We’ll leave that up to Greg and Shun to decide.

When will the tree be ready?

The Conservancy is currently performing a tree inventory and will be providing a new selection of available trees in the coming weeks. Greg and Shun will be able to pick from four or five options and locations.

How will the money get to the Emerald Necklace Conservancy?

This GoFundMe is set up to have the funds automatically transferred to the Emerald Necklace Conservancy once we meet or exceed our goal. I will post updates and provide donation receipts/proof of donation at that time.

What will the plaque say?

“Only connect!” —E.M. Forster

In honor of Shun Y. Kiang

Beloved son, partner, brother, scholar, professor and friend.

“Only connect!” is a favorite quote of Shun’s—it’s his Instagram handle—and he wrote his Ph.D. thesis on Forster’s Howards End, the quote’s genesis. (The dissertation’s full title is "Only Connect": Friendship, Belonging, and Space in the Works of J.M. Barrie, E.M. Forster, and J.R. Ackerley.” It’s available to read in Northeastern University’s online library here , if you’d like.)

What is the Emerald Necklace Conservancy?

It’s the organization that conserves and maintains the Emerald Necklace, Frederick Law Olmsted's more than 130-year-old public park system. Per the Conservancy, Jamaica Pond, in particular, captivated Olmsted with its “great beauty in reflections and flickering half-lights.” It's the largest standing body of water in the Emerald Necklace chain of parks and ponds, and Olmsted preserved much of the existing vegetation and framed it with trees, shrubs and paths, including the 1.5-mile loop that Shun loves so much.

AGAIN, THIS IS A SURPRISE. Please reach out to Megan with any questions/before sharing.

Thank you in advance for your support of our wonderful Shun and Greg.

More updates to come!

(Updated July 2025)

More people are calling for reconsideration of the proposal to build a professional sports stadium in Franklin Park, with Boston Legacy Football Club now planning to play their inaugural season at Gillette Stadium. Most recently, the NAACP Boston Branch called for an immediate halt to the professional soccer stadium plans and expressed support for a significantly more affordable, fully-public stadium renovation that would meet the needs of Boston Public Schools students and the community. Multiple elected officials, including Massachusetts Senator Nick Collins and Representative Chynah Tyler—who represent neighborhoods abutting Franklin Park—as well as City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, have spoken out against the flawed private redevelopment proposal.

While the existing high school stadium on the site has been demolished, leaving only the signature “clam shell” wall, construction of the new stadium has still not begun, or been fully bid. Residents and advocates highlight that there is plenty of time to reconsider plans to build a fully public stadium for Boston Public Schools students and the communities around Franklin Park.

The White Stadium parcel of land sits in the middle of a historic, nationally recognized park, with no parking, surrounded by residential neighborhoods, almost a mile from the nearest train station. Questions about game-day transportation planning have gone unanswered. The proponents have issued a shifting array of restrictive rules and limitations that would subject residents to excessive regulation within their own neighborhoods, and significant concerns about traffic congestion and community disruption continue to be overlooked. Additionally, a legal challenge questioning the project remains ongoing, with an active lawsuit currently before the court.

The Franklin Park Defenders, a community-led group advocating for an alternative plan to renovate White Stadium as a public high school facility—offering a more environmentally responsible and cost-effective solution for the City—continue to highlight these critical concerns. The final cost of this project is unknown and will not be shared until the end of 2025. It has been suggested that the final cost of the City’s half of the project could reach upward of $172 million under “worst-case” contingencies.

The Franklin Park Defenders need your support now more than ever. There is still time to get this right! Support our advocacy today to help keep Franklin Park and White Stadium open, accessible, and protected for the communities that depend on them.