This Park in Chicago Was Once an Airport

Photo Credits: Studio Gang

Those who played Microsoft Flight Simulator before 2004 may recall a very interesting change in the map of Chicago featured in the game. From 2000 to 2004, the starting location for the pilots was Meigs Field Airport (CGX), which has since been transformed into a public park known as Northerly Island Park. 

At the peak of its fame, Meigs Field was considered a crown jewel of general aviation. This iconic lakefront airport offered pilots the rare opportunity to land within walking distance of Chicago’s towering skyline. 

Although the airport was well-regarded by both pilots and passengers, the early 2000s marked a shift in urban development priorities. Opened in December 1948, Meigs Field occupied a man-made peninsula just off the shores of Lake Michigan, providing spectacular approaches with unmatched proximity to the downtown Loop. The single-runway airport served business travellers, private pilots, and even air ambulances.  

At the time, Mayor Richard M. Daley, inspired by the vision of renowned architect Daniel Burnham, began contemplating the creation of a lakefront park in Chicago. In March 2003, under the cover of darkness, construction crews used bulldozers to carve large X-shaped gouges across the runway, rendering it unusable. This infamous act, dubbed “Daley's midnight raid” by Flying Magazine, was highly controversial. No prior notice was given to the FAA, pilots or residents, and 16 aircraft were left stranded as a result. 

Photo Credits: Chicago Sun Times

The damage caused by the bulldozers was so extensive that the runway could not be repaired, leaving authorities with no choice but to close the airport permanently. Daley defended his decision by citing concerns following the September 11 attacks, arguing that the airport’s proximity to the city's high-rise skyline posed a security risk. 

By 2005, the airport has been fully demolished, and landscaping began for the construction of the park. Today, Northerly Island Park is a popular attraction with a great view of Lake Michigan. 

Despite its modest size, Meigs Field played a vital role in urban aviation. With a 3,000-foot (910 m) runway, it accommodated small aircraft, helicopters, turboprops, and even small business jets, as well as air ambulances, providing direct access to the city centre. Its abrupt destruction was viewed by many in aviation as a breach of trust, the loss of valuable infrastructure, and the end of a golden era of private air travel in Chicago.