A large-scale transformation is taking shape in Santa Monica as the city moves forward with plans to convert the Santa Monica Airport into a public park and community space following its scheduled closure on December 31, 2028. The project, which encompasses nearly 200 acres of prime public land, represents one of the largest urban redevelopment opportunities in Southern California, with the city currently conducting a five-phase community engagement process that has already generated thousands of public responses.
According to city records, the conversion project—which is progressing toward a July 8, 2025 City Council presentation of the preferred scenario—seeks to transform a site that is currently 80 percent impervious surface into a mixed-use development where at least two-thirds will be dedicated to open space, recreation, or parkland. The 200-acre site, originally purchased for public park use, will be developed under three potential scenarios: “Reuse, Restoration, and Resilience,” “Weaving Park and Community,” and “Growing Park, Growing Community.” All scenarios maintain existing runways and taxiways for recreational purposes while confining new buildings to the north and south edges or adaptive reuse of existing asphalt areas.
The design concepts reveal a forward-thinking approach that emphasizes distributed features over centralized massing, with each scenario incorporating both active and passive park uses alongside water integration and ecological restoration elements. The existing runway infrastructure will be creatively repurposed for recreational activities, while the overall layout prioritizes open space accessibility and community connectivity. The architectural vision maintains the site’s unique aviation heritage while transforming it into a modern urban oasis that serves diverse community needs. Future visitors will benefit from the project’s location in Santa Monica, offering access to large-scale recreational facilities in one of Los Angeles County’s most densely populated areas. The development timeline spans from the current community engagement phase through 2025, with implementation steps to be finalized following the preferred scenario selection.
Revenue generation strategies under consideration include adaptive reuse of existing buildings and strategic development on site edges and corners, though community input has shown preference for lower-cost plans that minimize the need for on-site revenue generation. The project operates under the constraints of Measure LC, which limits land use to parks or park-supporting uses unless voters approve otherwise, ensuring the development remains true to its public service mission.
Based on city records, community engagement has been extensive, with three major survey rounds generating thousands of responses, including Survey 3A which received approximately 5,000 responses with 1,866 complete submissions. The city’s approach reflects its commitment to creating “a community that is vibrant, safe, sustainable, resilient, mobile, culturally rich, ethnically diverse, and equitable to serve the needs of the entire community and to foster a thriving local economy,” positioning this airport conversion as a cornerstone project for Santa Monica’s future development vision.
