By the end of the next decade, city and aviation officials plan to close Santa Monica Airport and convert the 227 acres of runways and airport property into a public park just two miles from the Pacific Ocean.
Originally used for military operations during World War II, the airport later became a convenient arrival and departure point for private pilots and visiting celebrities. Officials aim to complete removal of the airport’s runways, hangars, and terminal by 2028, then begin transforming the site into green space with sports fields, walking paths, and other recreational amenities.
Located just south of Santa Monica’s central neighborhoods, the new park will provide much-needed open space for local residents who have long complained about aircraft noise and emissions from the nearby airfield. Many community members welcome the closure and the promise of a quieter, cleaner environment; others say the planned 11-year timeline is too slow. To address some of those concerns, airport managers intend to shorten the existing runway from nearly 5,000 feet to about 3,500 feet immediately, a change designed to limit certain aircraft operations and reduce air traffic and fuel emissions while the full conversion proceeds.