Meigs Field facts for kids
Merrill C. Meigs Field Airport (IATA: CGX, ICAO: KCGX) was a special airport in Chicago, Illinois. It was built on a man-made piece of land called Northerly Island. This airport had only one main runway for planes.
Meigs Field was open from December 1948 until March 2003. It was named after Merrill C. Meigs, who loved airplanes. By 1955, it became America's busiest airport with just one runway. An air traffic control tower was built in 1952. The main building for passengers, called the terminal, was finished in 1961.
The airport was a well-known sight along Chicago's lakefront. Many people knew it from video games like Microsoft Flight Simulator. It also appeared in Microsoft's Midtown Madness and Reflections' Driver 2. The airport was even a main setting in the famous film Powers of Ten.
The main terminal building was used by the Chicago Department of Aviation. The airport's runway was about 3,900 feet long and 150 feet wide (which is about 1,189 by 46 meters). There were also four special landing spots for helicopters at the south end of the runway.
The Airport's Sudden Closure
Meigs Field Airport closed very suddenly on March 30, 2003. Early that morning, Richard M. Daley, who was the Mayor of Chicago at the time, ordered the runway to be destroyed. Large machines called bulldozers were used to dig big X-shaped ditches into the runway. This made it impossible for any planes to take off or land.
Mayor Daley said he closed the airport for safety reasons. He believed it was a risk for small planes to fly so close to downtown Chicago. He also wanted to turn Northerly Island into a park. Many pilots and aviation groups were very upset by this sudden closure. They felt it was done without proper warning or discussion.
Northerly Island Today
After the airport closed, Northerly Island was changed into a large park. This park is now a popular spot for people to enjoy nature and outdoor activities. It has walking paths, natural areas, and beautiful views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. The area where the runway once stood is now part of this green space.
The transformation of Northerly Island shows how urban spaces can change over time. What was once a busy airport is now a peaceful park. This change helps protect wildlife and gives city residents a place to relax outdoors.
Images for kids
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Burnham's Plan of Chicago (1909). North is to the right.
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Meigs Field Airport terminal building
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Meigs Field Airport air traffic control tower
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The field in 1997
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Meigs Field Runway a few days after destruction ordered by Mayor Daley. The large X marks were cut into the runway by bulldozers to prevent aircraft from taking off or landing.
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12th Street Beach House
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Charter One Pavilion sign, January 10, 2007
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