Ghost Airports Reborn as Urban Parks: 6 Runways You Can Picnic On

Control towers have dimmed and jet engines have fallen silent—but the tarmac lives on as green

space. Around the globe city planners are converting decommissioned airports into parks, keeping
the sense of scale and freedom that only a runway provides. Spread a blanket on these
six ex-airfields where holding patterns are now jogging loops and arrival lounges
have become cafés.

1. Tempelhofer Feld – Berlin, Germany

Wide concrete runways with skaters, cyclists and community gardens at Tempelhofer Feld

Closed: 2008 • Size: 355 ha
Berliners voted in a 2014 referendum to keep the vast apron car-free and development-free.
Today kite-surfers zip down Runway 09L, urban gardeners grow tomatoes in recycled luggage
bins, and the old terminal hosts design fairs.

Bring: A wind-breaker and a longboard—the open concrete gets gusty.

2. Northerly Island – Chicago, USA

Prairie grass and walking paths on Northerly Island with Chicago skyline behind

Closed: 2003 (Meigs Field) • Size: 37 ha
Once famous for its single lakefront runway, the peninsula is now prairie habitat with
migratory birds, a lagoon for kayaking, and an outdoor concert venue.
Bike from downtown in ten minutes along the Lakefront Trail.

Trivia: Mayor Daley bulldozed the runway overnight, sparking controversy and, ultimately,
Chicago’s new green lung.

3. Kai Tak Runway Park – Hong Kong

Rooftop garden over the former Kai Tak runway with harbour views

Closed: 1998 • Size: 13 ha public deck
The notorious checkerboard approach is gone; in its place a palm-lined promenade and
cruise-terminal rooftop garden face Victoria Harbour.
Visitors picnic on reclaimed runway concrete as A350s now land 30 km away at Chek Lap Kok.

Tip: Arrive just before sunset to watch skyline lights mirror the old approach path.

4. Crissy Field – San Francisco, USA

Former airfield Crissy Field with restored marshes and Golden Gate Bridge backdrop

Closed: 1974 • Size: 42 ha
This former Presidio Army airstrip now hosts tidal marsh, a flat bike lane, and direct
Golden Gate views.
Fog and pelicans share the sky where biplanes once trained.

Coffee kiosks on Old Mason Street roast beans on site—ideal fuel before crossing the bridge.

5. Croydon Airport Recreation Ground – London, UK

Art Deco terminal of former Croydon Airport flanked by playing fields

Closed: 1959 • Size: 60 ha (including sports fields)
Britain’s first international airport is now a local recreation ground.
The 1928 Art Deco terminal houses a micro-museum and Sunday café.
Markers on the grass outline the old runway centreline—perfect
for a cricket match with aviation history underfoot.

6. Ellinikon Metropolitan Park – Athens, Greece

Former Olympic Airlines terminal at Ellinikon with weeds growing through tarmac

Closed: 2001 • Plan: 620 ha (Europe’s largest coastal park, phased)
While major redevelopment is ongoing, the southern runway already hosts weekend
cyclists and skaters.
Vintage Olympic Airlines branding fades under Aegean sun, lending a retro backdrop
to food-truck markets on Sundays.

Good to know: Metro line 2 will extend to the site by 2027; until then use the 24-hour X97 bus from Syntagma.

Planning Tips

Runway surfaces trap heat; pack extra water and sun protection in summer.
Some parks restrict kite-flying to protect birds—check local signage.
History buffs: Tempelhof offers English-language bunker tours (€17, book a week ahead).

Love repurposed spaces? Read our guide to
cycling ancient aqueducts,
or stretch your legs across borders on
three-nation hikes.

Final Thought

Airports once represented speed and exclusivity; their second lives focus on
slowness and community. Grab a picnic, claim your patch of runway, and
imagine the departures board replaced with a sunset schedule instead.