The planned 192-acre park replacing Santa Monica Airport just landed a major public funding boost.

The City Council voted 6-0 on Tuesday, June 9, to accept a $10 million Proposition 4 Climate Bond grant for Phase 1 of the Santa Monica Airport Conversion Project. The same vote also locked in a separate $499,149 LA County Measure A grant earmarked for planning and pre-design of the park's first 20 acres. No local match is required for either award.

Mayor Caroline Torosis called the $10 million award "a meaningful step toward realizing what Santa Monica has long envisioned for this land."

The Climate Bond money came through Proposition 4, a $10 billion statewide measure California voters approved in 2024. State Sen. Ben Allen, who authored the bond, worked with city staff to secure the grant, according to the city's staff report. A portion of the funding will pay for feasibility studies and environmental review needed before construction can begin, per Allen's office.

Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Zwick was absent. Councilmembers Lana Negrete, Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Barry Snell, and Natalya Zernitskaya all voted yes alongside Torosis, according to the June 9 meeting minutes.

What the money unlocks

City staff told the Council the project carries "a significant funding challenge" requiring state and federal grants, philanthropic partnerships, and sustained investment across multiple phases. No total buildout cost has been publicly released.

The $10 million grant advances Phase 1 planning and positions the city to pursue additional public and private investment, according to Allen's office. The Measure A grant, funded by a 2016 voter-approved parcel tax, will cover planning and pre-design for the first 20 acres to open.

Where the project stands

The airport is scheduled to close at midnight on December 31, 2028, under a 2017 consent decree with the FAA. The planning process is in Phase 3B, developing a framework diagram that organizes the site into eight districts. Phase 4, called "The Path Ahead," is scheduled for summer 2026, with Phase 5 targeting fall 2026.

Community engagement so far has included 87 public meetings, 20 small-group discussions with more than 370 participants, and over 12,100 online survey responses, according to the city's project website. The Great Park Coalition, which advocates for park-only use of the site under Measure LC, says it now has 85 member organizations.

What's next

The city has not announced a specific date for the next public meeting on Phase 4. Updates and surveys are available at smacproject.com.