Santa Monica Airport Could Become A Park After Closure

SANTA MONICA, CA — The Santa Monica City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to begin the planning process to put a Great Park in place of the Santa Monica Airport after its scheduled closure in 2028.

Early discussions have begun taking place about the future of the 227-acre parcel that could result in a public space akin to Central Park in New York City or Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The process is only just starting though, Santa Monica Public Works Chief Operations Officer Peter James said implementation can and will span decades.

"As this project is likely to be the most transformative urban planning event of the century for the city of Santa Monica, the implications of the decisions that we make in these chambers will reverberate across several generations," James said.

The Santa Monica Airport takes up about 5 percent of the whole city and extends into the city of Los Angeles in the Mar Vista area. Dedicated in 1923, the airport has existed in the community for 100 years and is authorized for closure on Dec. 31, 2028.

James said there are plans to engage with community members to work toward realizing what the ideal use for the space would be. Though the park is a popular idea, with Santa Monica's current park deficit, there is also a possibility to add more housing onto the land to help meet the city's housing needs.

"In order to be responsive to the generations of Santa Monicans that will use this space in the future, we need to think beyond our lifetimes," James said. "What type of tree do we want to plant now so that people in the year 2223 or 2333 can rest in its shade?"

The entire project could end up being "extraordinarily costly," James said. Similar projects in other countries like Greece, where the Ellinkon International Airport closed in 2001, went through a 22-year planning process to make a 600-acre park and cost more than $6.5 million.

Council members at Tuesday's meeting stressed the importance of making sure all voices are heard while community input is sought during the next four to five years before the airport closes. Councilwoman Caroline Torosis said it will be most important to hear from people who are underprivileged about how plans can best serve them.

"The way we're going to get to the best outcome for the city of Santa Monica is if we all commit ourselves to this, but we also commit ourselves to do it in a respectful way," Mayor Gleam Davis said.