Roberta Aguirre
Chicago's Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport was shut down in 2003 by Mayor Richard M. Daley, who ordered the destruction of its runway. The airport was operational from 1948 to 2003 and was located on an artificial peninsula in Lake Michigan. The closure was justified by Mayor Daley as a necessary safety measure to prevent potential terrorist attacks on the downtown waterfront. However, commentators attributed the decision to his desire to repurpose the land as a park, sparking mixed reactions from aviation interests and supporters of the park proposal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Airport | Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport |
| Location | Northerly Island, an artificial peninsula in Lake Michigan |
| Operational Years | 1948-2003 |
| Reason for Closure | Mayor Richard M. Daley wanted the land repurposed as a park and cited safety concerns due to the post-9/11 risk of terrorist-controlled aircraft attacks |
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What You'll Learn
- Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport was shut down due to safety concerns
- Mayor Richard M. Daley ordered the destruction of the runway
- The airport land was sought to be repurposed as a park
- The airport was the busiest single-strip airport in the US
- Meigs Field was critical for aeromedical transport to downtown hospitals
Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport was shut down due to safety concerns
Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport was a single-runway airport in Chicago, located on Northerly Island, an artificial peninsula in Lake Michigan. The airport was named after Merrill C. Meigs, a Chicago pilot and publisher of the Chicago Herald and Examiner, and it operated from 1948 to 2003. During its peak in the late 1980s, Meigs Field served commuter airline services, with small planes offering short-hop flights to nearby cities.
In March 2003, Mayor Richard M. Daley ordered the abrupt closure of the airport by bulldozing large X-shaped gouges into the runway, rendering it unusable. This decision was made without consulting the City Council, the statehouse, or the Federal Aviation Administration. Daley defended his actions by citing safety concerns, specifically the risk of terrorist-controlled aircraft attacking the downtown waterfront near Meigs Field in the post-9/11 era.
The safety explanation was questioned by some, including the Homeland Security Secretary, who expressed disappointment that the agency was not consulted. The closure of Meigs Field was part of Daley's long-held plan to repurpose the land as a park, boosting Chicago's real estate values and political support. The airport's proximity to downtown Chicago and its popularity among business travelers made it a target for closure, despite its economic contributions to the city.
The destruction of Meigs Field was a controversial move that shocked even close observers of City Hall. The sudden closure resulted in several aircraft being stranded on the ground, and it marked the end of an era for Chicago's aviation history. Today, the former airport site has been transformed into a park, although it has struggled to become a popular recreational space.
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Mayor Richard M. Daley ordered the destruction of the runway
On March 31, 2003, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley ordered the overnight destruction of Meigs Field's sole runway, leading to its permanent closure. The destruction was carried out under the cover of darkness, without alerting the City Council, the statehouse, or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Daley's decision came as a shock to many, but his desire to shut down the airport and convert the land into a park was widely known. He had previously attempted to close Meigs Field in 1996 by padlocking the gates, but his efforts were thwarted by then-Gov. Jim Edgar. In the years leading up to the runway's destruction, Daley battled with Republican governors over the airport's future.
The mayor defended his decision by citing safety concerns in a post-9/11 world. He argued that having planes flying close to skyscrapers posed a risk and that he was not willing to wait for a tragedy to occur. However, critics accused him of using security fears to pursue his long-held dream of turning the airport into a park. Daley's move was seen as a brash stunt that epitomized Chicago politics, with some calling for more checks and balances on mayoral power.
The destruction of the runway had significant consequences. The taxpayers bore the cost of Daley's actions, paying for the destruction of the airfield, the resulting $33,000 fine from the FAA, and the transformation of Northerly Island into a park and concert pavilion. Daley's decision also impacted the local economy, as Meigs Field was valuable for business travelers and corporate planes.
Overall, Mayor Richard M. Daley's decision to order the destruction of Meigs Field's runway was a controversial and divisive move that had lasting impacts on the city of Chicago.
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The airport land was sought to be repurposed as a park
Chicago's Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport was constructed on an artificial peninsula in Lake Michigan in 1948 to accommodate the demand for general aviation following World War II. By the 1970s, it had become a critical facility for aeromedical transport and was also used by corporate aircraft.
However, in 2003, the airport land was sought to be repurposed as a park. Mayor Richard M. Daley forced the airport's abrupt closure by ordering the overnight destruction of its runway. This move was defended as a way to save the city from further court battles before the airport could close and due to safety concerns regarding the post-9/11 risk of terrorist-controlled aircraft attacking the downtown waterfront near the airport.
The decision to repurpose the airport land as a park was not without controversy. Aviation interests and commentators decried the move, while supporters of the park believed it was in the city's best interest. The Lake Michigan Federation (later the Alliance for the Great Lakes) released an urban wilderness plan for the site in February 2001.
The closure of Meigs Field Airport marked the end of an era for Chicago's aviation history. The airport had become widely familiar, even featuring as the default airport in early versions of the Microsoft Flight Simulator software. Despite the controversy, the repurposing of the land as a park represented a shift in priorities for the city, prioritizing green spaces and recreational areas over aviation infrastructure.
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The airport was the busiest single-strip airport in the US
Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport, a single-runway airport in Chicago, was the busiest single-strip airport in the United States. Named after newspaper publisher and aviation enthusiast Merrill C. Meigs, the airport was located on Northerly Island, an artificial peninsula in Lake Michigan. It was constructed to meet the demand for general aviation following World War II and also served regional commercial air travel.
The airport quickly rose to prominence due to its proximity to downtown Chicago. Over the years, several improvements were made, including the addition of an air traffic control tower in 1952 and a new terminal building in 1961. The runway was lengthened, and in the late 1990s, two FAA instrument approaches were charted, enabling landings in unfavourable weather conditions. By the 1970s, Meigs Field had become indispensable for aeromedical transport, facilitating the swift transfer of patients and transplant organs to downtown hospitals.
The airport was also utilised by corporate aircraft, accommodating Cessna Citation and Dassault Falcon 10 business jets, as well as Beechcraft King Air and Grumman Gulfstream I business propjets. The Main Terminal Building, under the management of the Chicago Department of Aviation, provided waiting areas, offices, and counter spaces. Meigs Field gained widespread recognition when it was featured as the default airport in the early versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator software.
Despite its success, Meigs Field Airport abruptly ceased operations in 2003. The closure was instigated by Mayor Richard M. Daley, who sought to repurpose the land as a park. In defence of his decision, Daley cited safety concerns, specifically referencing the post-September 11 threat of terrorist-controlled aircraft attacking the downtown waterfront near the airport. The controversial move was met with criticism from aviation interests and commentators, while supporters of the park transformation believed it benefited the city.
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Meigs Field was critical for aeromedical transport to downtown hospitals
Meigs Field Airport, a single-runway airport in downtown Chicago, was critical for aeromedical transport to downtown hospitals. Built in 1948, it was named after Merrill C. Meigs, publisher of the Chicago Herald and Examiner and an aviation advocate. By the 1970s, Meigs Field had become a critical facility for aeromedical transport, providing convenient access to downtown Chicago for patients and transplant organs. It was also used by corporate aircraft, including business jets and propjets.
The airport was located on Northerly Island, an artificial peninsula in Lake Michigan, and was known for its prime location near the Central Business District. Meigs Field offered easier access to downtown than Chicago's two main airports, O'Hare and Midway. It quickly became the busiest single-strip airport in the United States, serving general aviation aircraft, corporate jets, and some passenger services.
Despite its popularity and importance for aeromedical transport, Meigs Field faced several closure attempts starting in the 1980s. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, who had long wanted to convert the airport site into a park, first shut it down in 1996. However, the state legislature forced the airport to reopen, and in 2001, a deal was reached to renew the airport's lease until 2026.
On March 30, 2003, Mayor Daley made a shocking decision to abruptly close the airport again. Overnight, he ordered crews to bulldoze the runway and create X-shaped gouges, rendering it unusable. This effectively shut down the airport as no aircraft could take off or land. The decision was defended as a safety measure to protect the city from terrorist attacks, but many contested this motive, believing Daley's true intention was to fulfil his long-held desire to turn the site into a park.
The closure of Meigs Field had a significant impact on aeromedical transport to downtown Chicago hospitals. With Meigs Field no longer an option, alternative transport methods or airports would have been necessary to ensure timely and efficient delivery of patients and organs to these medical facilities. The closure highlighted the critical role that well-located airports play in facilitating emergency medical services and the potential consequences when such infrastructure is lost.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport was shut down in 2003 by Mayor Richard M. Daley, who sought to repurpose the land as a park.
Mayor Daley defended his actions by claiming that the closure was due to safety concerns, specifically the risk of terrorist-controlled aircraft attacking the downtown waterfront near Meigs Field.
Aviation interests and commentators decried the move, while supporters of the park believed it was in the city's best interest for the land to become a park.
