Santa Monica City Council greenlit a significant move to transform its airport into a sprawling "Great Park," with plans to shut down the aviation functions and redevelop the land, officials announced Tuesday. The Council approved the hiring of Sasaki Inc. to explore the site's possibilities, following a voter-backed initiative to keep the area devoted to public and recreational use. The city is also on the lookout for a new principal design and planning manager to spearhead the project, pending a Personnel Board nod expected in January, according to a statement released on the city's website.
"Having been a Recreation and Parks Commissioner for almost 14 years, I believe that our city needs more park space," Mayor Phil Brock stated, confident in Sasaki's ability to help realize the vision of a public asset for the Santa Monica community despite the lengthy and expensive process such a large-scale redevelopment invariably entails. Sasaki's contract encompasses a strategic five-phase plan, culminating with a Council-reviewed preferred alternative around the end of 2025.
The inspiration for the park stems from Measure LC, which voters passed, limiting the 227-acre airport property's development to prioritize parks, open spaces, and public facilities, maintaining the legacy of the original parkland.
As the project kicks off early next year, the Sasaki-led team is set to initiate more than 60 meetings, including listening sessions to ensure extensive community engagement. Santa Monica is slated to officially close the airport to aircraft after December 31, 2028. Detailed strategies for the phased implementation and innovative rollouts will be drawn up for city review, with the hope of beginning some form of onsite activation immediately, upon airport closure.
