As a proud Santa Monican, I’ve witnessed the city’s transformation from an eco-conscious community to one suffocating under asphalt and concrete. Despite this, I’ve always believed that our community has the potential to thrive in harmony with nature.
The closure of Santa Monica Airport in 2028 marks a rare opportunity for us to reclaim nearly 200 acres of open public land and restore it as a natural space. Dubbed the Emerald Sanctuary, this initiative could be the most powerful action we can take to heal our personal, social, and planetary crises.
Providing access to nature is essential for environmental justice, social justice, and public health. Studies show that time in nature reduces anxiety and depression, improves focus, memory, and resilience, and promotes kindness and collaboration.
The Great Park project offers an economic boon, attracting visitors and revenues to local hotels, restaurants, shops, and cultural centers. Moreover, parks raise nearby property values, improve public health, and revitalize local economies. This is a chance for us to create a thriving ecological sanctuary that benefits all beings.
We have the duty to safeguard trees, soil, and species to offset what we’ve already lost or are being threatened. A regenerative park would help cool rising temperatures, sequester carbon, manage stormwater, and restore habitat corridors. This is our one and only chance to transform urban land into a healthy, vibrant ecosystem.
As I invite you to join me in creating the Emerald Sanctuary, remember that we are nature. Let us not build over what’s sacred; let us be rooted into it and bring more life to our children, community, and ecosystem. Together, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come.
Source: https://smdp.com/opinion/from-airport-to-great-park-reclaiming-life-healing-our-city