February 19, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Wide, Open Spaces

By Jennifer Eden

 

In an effort to up Santa Monica City’s open spaces and parks, a massive expanse of concrete on the corner of Bundy Drive and Airport Avenue is now available for all to enjoy, and it’s costing Santa Monicans $182,424 a year.

 

According to the City, the six-acre Airport Interim Open Space has been created for “unprogrammed recreational use, including roller-blading, bicycle training for families and romantic sunset enjoyment,” with users encouraged to “imagine” what it may be like in the future.

 

While sitting in the middle of an expansive concrete quadrangle may be romantic for some, a recent survey taken by The Mirror over the course of eight weeks saw very little use of the area; at times a few lone fathers and their learning-to-bike-ride children were spotted where airplane tie-downs used to be.

“The tie downs were removed because they are no longer being used,” City representatives told The Mirror. According to the City, those that were being used have been relocated to other parts of the airport.

In lieu of the small $2,200 monthly revenue that the tie-downs were making in the space, the City now pays the Airport $15,202 a month to lease the concrete area. The monies are transferred from the General Fund to the Airport Fund totaling $182,424 a year.

“There are no immediate plans for programming at the temporary space, but it’s there for the community’s creative enjoyment,” Constance Farrell, Public Information Coordinator with the City of Santa Monica, told The Mirror.

No budget has been drafted or allocated to the actual building of the space into anything either, and if timelines reflect similar City projects, then it could be at least 2022 until building starts, drawing an estimated $1,094,544 in lease payments from City coffers over six years.

“Funding for the design phase of the expansion project is secured through the general fund, capital improvement program budget. The total for design is approximately $1.1 million. Financing for the construction phase has not been secured, but it is being explored,” Farrell explained.

No temporary programming, events, or community activities have been planned for the space, but you are welcome to go there and imagine what may, or may not, be next.

“We want people to get out there and explore the possibilities while also envisioning what it will be like when walking paths, sports fields and other amenities fill the space,” Farrell said.

Santa Monica airport
The vast, empty open airport park space where residents are encouraged to “envision” what might come next.
Santa Monica Airport 2
Greenery surrounds the space, but the six-acre area is empty.
Photos: Morgan Genser
Related Posts

New Report Ranks Culver City as a Top Place to Age, But Challenges Remain

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Survey Highlights Strengths and Key Areas for Improvement in Senior Living A newly released report shows that 81% of surveyed...

Free Legal and Recovery Workshops for Los Angeles Residents Affected By Wildfires

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Public Counsel Offers Expert Guidance on Rebuilding, Avoiding Scams, Trauma Public Counsel, a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to...

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s LA Home Burglarized on Valentine’s Day

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Burglary Part of a Growing Trend of High-Profile Crimes in Los Angeles The Los Angeles home of actress Nicole Kidman...

UCLA Students Protest Suspension of Pro-Palestinian Groups On Campus

February 18, 2025

February 18, 2025

Demonstrators March After University Suspends Student Organizations Groups of students gathered on the UCLA campus Tuesday afternoon to protest the...

Metro LA to Begin Ticketing Bus Lane Violators with Camera Enforcement

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

Motorists Parked in Bus Lanes Will Face $293 Fines For Each Infraction Drivers who park in bus lanes will soon...

The Department of Public Health to Hold Virtual Town Hall on Post-Fire Air, Soil, and Water Safety

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

LA County Officials Will Discuss Environmental Testing, Recovery Efforts The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will hold a...

Los Angeles County Launches $32.2 Million Relief Grant for Wildfire Victims

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

Eligible Households Affected by the Palisades Fires Can Apply Soon The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs...

Culver City Police Seek Suspect in Weekend Battery Incident

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

Man Accused of Assaulting a Victim is Still at Large Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a...

(Video) Enjoy Beach Proximity and Prime Amenities at Ocean View Hotel

February 17, 2025

February 17, 2025

For More Info, Go To Oceanviewsantamonica.com For More Info, Go To https://t.co/RmxV3mgYCs pic.twitter.com/30oSvl7Zvf — Westside Today (@WestsideLAToday) February 17, 2025

Deadly Stabbing Outside Popular Santa Monica Bar on Saturday

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

One Man Killed, Another Injured in Early Morning Attack The Bungalow, a popular restaurant and bar in Santa Monica, was...

Iconic Gloria Vanderbilt Estate Hits the Market for the First Time in 72 Years

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Historic Beverly Hills Mansion With Star-Studded Past Listed at $16.5 Million For the first time in 72 years, the historic...

Melrose Avenue Businesses Forced to Close After Floodwaters Inundate Stores

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Heavy Rains Turned Melrose Avenue Into a River, Causing Severe Damage  Heavy rainfall in the Fairfax District caused flooding on...

State Farm Faces Scrutiny Over Emergency Rate Hike Request From State Official

February 16, 2025

February 16, 2025

Commissioner Lara Demands Answers on Financial Stability and Consumer Impact California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has responded to State Farm’s...

UCLA Suspends Pro-Palestinian Student Groups Following Protest at UC Regent’s Home

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Chancellor Cites Potential Student Code Violations; Student Groups Reject Allegations UCLA has suspended two pro-Palestinian student organizations following a protest...

Flash Flood Warning Issued for Burn Areas, LAFD Officer Swept off Road by Debris

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Storm Damage Closes Pacific Coast Highway, Officials Urge Caution Not even members of the LAFD are being spared from the...