The Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD) announced its 2026 Measure A grant awards this week, including $499,149 for the City of Santa Monica to support planning and design for the first 20 acres of the future “Great Park” that will replace the airport after its scheduled closure in 2028.
The grant represents an early but significant investment in what is expected to become one of the largest new parks on the Westside. Planning for the site has been underway for years, guided by Measure LC, which voters approved in 2014 to convert the airport land into public park space.
Last month, the city released its draft framework plan for the park, the result of extensive community outreach and public input. The Measure A grant will help fund the next phase of work, including detailed planning, site analysis, and continued engagement as the city refines how the roughly 192-acre site will be transformed.
Advocates say the award is an important step forward. Neil Carrey, president of the Santa Monica Airport2Park Foundation, called the funding “an important vote of confidence” in the city’s planning process, noting that large park projects often take years—and multiple funding sources—to complete.
“This is the first funding award of many,” Carrey said, adding that a strong vision for the park will help attract additional investment over time.
John Fairweather, president of the Santa Monica Great Park Coalition, echoed that sentiment, noting that while this is a planning grant capped at $500,000, future construction grants can range from $1 million to $4 million. He also urged residents to participate in the city’s ongoing public survey for the park framework, which remains open through April.
Countywide Grants Focus on High-Need Communities
The Santa Monica award is part of a broader package of more than $78 million in Measure A funding distributed across Los Angeles County.
In total, RPOSD awarded grants to 72 projects across 48 agencies and nonprofit organizations. More than $55 million is dedicated to construction projects expected to be completed within four years, while over $23 million will fund planning and design efforts like Santa Monica’s.
A central goal of the program is equity, with nearly two-thirds of funding directed to communities identified as having the highest need for park space and recreational resources.
Funded projects include park renovations in cities such as Cudahy and Huntington Park, greenway improvements, and new planning efforts in communities across the county.
Measure A, approved by voters in 2016, provides ongoing funding for park development through a parcel tax. County officials are also exploring a potential future measure that could generate significantly more funding annually for parks and open space.
Together, the latest round of grants highlights both the scale of investment needed to expand park access and the early steps now underway to turn the long-planned Santa Monica Airport park into a reality.
Author
About The Author
