SM Airport takes its final landing: Great Park takes off
Clover Park, interlaced with play structures, swing sets, bike paths and more, is the quintessential site for local gatherings. Located in the heart of Santa Monica, there isn't a natural space that’s more widely loved. This is why I was shocked to discover that Clover Park was once embedded in a park over 10 times its size and that there is a possibility of it returning.
In 1926, Santa Monica began constructing the original Great Park, which included stretches of open plains and a variety of activities available to the public. Sadly, the government took over the land for industrial use due to the oncoming threats of World War ll and built what we now all know as the Santa Monica Airport (SMO). This happened so long ago that I never knew such a large-scale recreational area ever existed in Santa Monica, and I was even more intrigued when I found out the SMO will be closed in its entirety by the end of 2028. Now, the beckoning question is what the space will be used for after its closure, and the answer is obvious: the Great Park must be restored.
Art by Kayman Mangan
To put things into perspective, santamonica.gov states that the newly available 192 acres take up nearly 3.5% of the city's land area, while Clover Park takes up just 17 acres of space. The significance of this open space extends beyond its acreage; it speaks to a deeper conversation about modern lifestyles and priorities. A study from outwardbound.org found that the average American child spends five to eight hours a day in front of a screen, compared to just "four to seven minutes in unstructured outdoor play per day.” The kids of this current generation need a place to explore and activate their brains away from devices. Being within the confines of the living world sparks imagination and genuine excitement for the future; In nature there are no agendas to follow, it only is what you make of it.
The fact that our local beaches are the only large public spaces in Santa Monica can't be overstated. In fact, Santa Monica only has about 1.45 acres of park per 1,000 residents, a number that would immediately double upon the opening of the Great Park. The sheer amount of field space would open new opportunities for countless sports while still holding true to its definition as a green space. Open soccer fields can be hard to come by in Santa Monica; Clover Park is forced to paint lines over their baseball diamonds to double as soccer fields, but the Great Park would have enough room to comfortably double the amount of makeshift pitches at Clover. The bike paths throughout Clover could extend into the Great Park and wind around various bodies of water, plants, trees and other forms of wildlife that would allow for new ecosystems to expand and flourish. If there is a desire to represent more modern elements, then the inclusion of more unique play structures and obscure layouts for the park would add incredible depth and spark further curiosity amongst the youth.
Many Samo students and faculty members are involved in the establishment of the Great Park, with environmental science teacher Benjamin Kay leading the charge. As member of the Great Park Coalition Advisory Board, Mr. Kay has made his voice heard to the city through a letter he wrote to the mayor of Santa Monica, stating that the implementation of the Great Park would “end the decades-long detrimental effects of airport-generated sound and chemical pollutants on our community.” Kay spoke further on his dream for the Great Park to function as a cohesive natural unit through eco-friendly development.
“This park could serve to augment the educational awareness about what's possible and how much it's saving us in terms of offsetting our carbon footprint, conserving water, claiming water that was headed down storm drains…” Kay said. “Let the park be a lesson, a lesson plan for the entire community.”
Not only will the closure of the airport remove one of the most toxic air pollutants in Santa Monica, but the large influx of trees would eliminate significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. Furthermore, the inclusion of lakes and bodies of water would help the irrigation process in the park. Trees and lakes are praised as symbols of beauty and stress relief in most great parks; essentially, the more welcoming the park looks, the more likely it is to thrive.
“Personally, I'm like you,” Kay said. “I'd like to have a biodiversity hotspot, a place for rewilding, a place where monarch butterflies—that are in danger—can come spend time. I want all the squirrels and birds flying along the pacific highway to have a resting ground. I want that immersive experience in the green and the blue.”
The main citizen concern is that the construction process appears to be financially straining, but the city of Santa Monica is in a better position than most think. According to thehealthycitylocal.com, the airport generate approximately $20 million annually and given the current trends surrounding inflation and active revenue bonds, it is estimated that Santa Monica will have $200 million at their disposal by the end of 2028 without having to raise extra funds. Eliminating price as a primary issue, the only hurdle is the time ticking towards the end of 2028. We all have the ability to continue pushing the narrative to ensure the Great Park remains a priority for our city. If you truly care about the mental, emotional and physical well being of our citizens, then the Great Park of Santa Monica deserves your attention.