SUMMARY

Parks and Other Recreational Uses on Airport Property

Airports of all shapes and sizes are challenged with meeting the needs of airport users while also ensuring positive community relations. Especially for general aviation airports, an airport does not want the community to consider the airport a nuisance, which may lead to strained relations and the challenge to an airport to justify its business. Some airports have created parks or recreational use spaces on airport property as a way to serve their neighboring communities and to ensure positive community relations.

Although it may be challenging for airports to redesignate land that is not needed for aeronautical use, doing so provides benefits to the community. Some airports that have established parks on airport property have taken the opportunity to share information about the airport, providing an educational resource to the public. Parks open to the public also provide increased health benefits, including both active and passive activities.

The objective of this synthesis is to describe the experiences of airports that provide airport property for publicly accessible parks and other recreational uses. This synthesis does not include discussion of special activities or periodic events. To meet this objective, a two-pronged research approach was adopted. First, a comprehensive review of all relevant literature was conducted, including FAA information related to compatible airport land use as well as recreational use of airport property. An online search of airports with publicly available parks or recreational use (yielding 25 airports) was conducted to inform the next aspect of the research design. Telephone interviews were then conducted with select airports known to have publicly available parks or recreational uses. Most of these interviews resulted in case examples, which are presented in Chapter 4.

The audience for this synthesis is staff of airports that currently have designated parks or recreational uses on airport property as well as of airports considering creating such spaces. The synthesis may also be beneficial for airport sponsors and community stakeholders, “friends of the airport” groups, and municipal parks and recreation departments.

Although findings from the literature and case examples are diverse, key conclusions of this synthesis are as follows:

Community Benefits. Engaging with the community is important if an airport wants to create a space that serves the public. Input from the neighboring community on its needs and wants for a space may also generate goodwill for the airport. Additionally, developing a park or recreational use that is in close proximity to the airfield can provide positive exposure to aviation as well as an opportunity to provide educational information about the airport.

Land Use Planning. Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5190-4B–Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning discusses airport recreational land use, which includes parks. This AC is meant to provide an understanding of land use compatibility issues related to safety impacts

on recreational users. Airports may need to consider a location that minimizes conflicts with runway safety areas, runway protection zones, and object free areas when designating the space to be used as a park or for recreational use. Additionally, airports have experienced 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 13 or Part 16 complaints as a result of airport property not being used for aeronautical purposes.

Long-Term Use. Airports should consider the impacts to the community in the event that they must recapture recreational space to accommodate aeronautical use. This could negatively impact the perception of the airport by the community if a park or recreational use space must be closed.

Operational Maintenance and Management. Once the space is developed and open to the public, regular maintenance and oversight of the space may be necessary. This could include mowing, seasonal snow removal, emptying of trash bins, and reservations for gazebo or picnic areas, among other efforts. Airport staff may be responsible for this operational maintenance and management, or nonairport entities such as city parks and recreation departments may assume this responsibility. If the city parks and recreation department assumes this responsibility, it will reduce demands on airport staff.

Social Responsibility. Dedicating a park or recreation use on an airport can stimulate community perception that the airport is socially responsible. This may be the most practical and effective method of achieving the social responsibility aspect of the EONS (economic vitality, operational efficiency, natural resources, and social responsibility) framework. Achieving social goals with the community, while also meeting sustainability goals by preserving green areas and water features, can be a positive result of such efforts.

Wildlife. Parks and recreational use space may create new wildlife hazards that negatively impact airport operations. Although significant green space and water features may be aesthetically pleasing, it is important to consider the degree to which these features may attract wildlife. This is especially true if park visitors leave food behind after picnics. Airports may consider designating areas for food as well as establishing a dedicated cleanup effort for areas where food has been present. Feeding of animals can also be prohibited.

This report does not propose best practices or provide guidance on alternative uses of airport land. It does, however, present a synthesis of practices from 11 airports on this topic as well as a review of the literature. Although practices vary and lessons learned differ among the airports interviewed (some of which will apply only to federally obligated airports), themes are identified that may be useful to airport and community members interested in creating parks or recreational use spaces on airport property.