Great Park Coalition

In 1926, the City of Santa Monica purchased a large barley field with a public bond and turned it into a large municipal park. But upon the United States’ entry into World War II, the federal government commandeered that parkland for aircraft production and defense purposes, the site became an airport, and has remained an airport ever since. The City of Santa Monica has worked for over 50 years to regain control of the land and at last is on track to close the existing airport at the end of 2028. 

The mission of the Santa Monica Great Park Coalition is to help the city reclaim that lost parkland to rebuild and restore the Great Park that once existed there. The restoration of the original Great Park is essential for many reasons, including (i) bringing back much-needed green and open space and recreational and cultural amenities to a quickly-densifying, historically park-poor city and region, (ii) combating climate change, (iii) meeting the City’s sustainability goals, and (iv) enhancing regional biodiversity.

This is an unfolding story, a park yet to be…..and so the GPC unites pro-park organizations and individuals through education and advocacy regarding the unique, one-time-only opportunity before us to restore and reclaim our Great Park.