22 Years Later: The Impact Of Meigs Field's Demolition

The demolition of the former downtown Chicago airport recently celebrated its 22nd anniversary, it's hard to believe that it's been that long.

The Destruction Of Meigs Field Airport In Illinois

I remember the first time I saw Meigs Field airport. From a distance, it looked like the planes were going to land in Lake Michigan, but there was an actual airport right next to Soldier Field. Of course, it was for small aircraft.

If you don't remember Meigs Field, it was located on Northerly Island, which is currently the home of the Huntington Bank Pavilion, a really cool outdoor concert venue. Back on March 31st, 2003, Mayor Daley decided to tear it down.

According to Chicago History...

Exactly 22 years ago, Meigs Field was destroyed without warning. Under Mayor Daley’s orders, bulldozers carved giant X’s into the runway, shutting down Chicago’s lakefront airport overnight, without FAA approval. One of the most controversial moves in aviation history.

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This is one of the main reasons I believe the Chicago Bears will never get approval for a new stadium on the museum campus around Soldier Field. The powers that be want it to be a park with no more buildings on the lakefront.

Chicago's loss is Rockford's gain. Since O'Hare and Midway airports are so busy, the state wanted a third option after Meigs Field was demolished. No other new locations came through, so the Rockford airport has stepped up to cover that.

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