Bringing Back Our Great Park for Future Generations
All News & Updates
The forgotten story of Santa Monica’s Great Park
Michael Brodsky, professor emeritus at Loyola Marymount University, provides a detailed historical overview of the land’s transformation.
“Park Space For a Park-Poor City” vs. “Add Housing” debate continues at the Planning Commission
On May 7, 2025 the City of Santa Monica Planning Commission received an update from City Staff on the SMAC Project planning process that occasioned significant public comment from both Great Park advocates and housing advocates who want to take half of the available land for 3000+ units of housing.
Santa Monica Democratic Club begins discussion of whether to endorse housing development when SMO closes
Although the SMDC endorsed Measure LC in 2014, it recently began a public discussion of whether the club will endorse putting housing at the current SMO site once the City closes the airport. Housing would require another local ballot measure to amend LC.
Informing the future of Santa Monica Airport
The UCLA Institute of Environment & Sustainability recently released a wonderful study of the historical landscape of the Santa Monica Airport. The Great Park Coalition looks forward to helping honor and protect the rich ecological and cultural history of this land.
Do we need Santa Monica Airport for emergencies?
After the Palisades fire, some people began to say we need to keep Santa Monica Airport open in…
The truth about Santa Monica Airport’s role during the wildfires
During the 4 days of the first event while 21,000 acres were burned, SMO, which was just 3 miles from the fire front, did not play a significant role in fighting the fires.
A video introduction to the Great Park Coalition
The people and organizations who made the 2014 Measure LC victory possible have reunited in a great coalition to make sure the airport closes as scheduled and the park becomes a reality.
Airport Conversion Project holds major outreach meeting. Releases new survey online.
In December 2024, Airport Conversion Project kicked off “Phase 2b” of its multi-year outreach process to guide a consulting team in creating a design for a future “great park” on the land where the Santa Monica Airport now stands.
A large, regenerative great park is best for the Santa Monica Airport site
Santa Monica is very fortunate that it has both the opportunity to restore the Great Park at the Santa Monica Airport site and to support sustainable affordable housing at other more appropriate locations throughout the city.