> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Making a stink about nothing - URL: https://www.smdp.com/making-a-stink-about-nothing/ - Published: 2007-05-10T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T00:44:01.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: local, Santa Monica Airport, #archive-import *Some Airport Park users unconcerned about aircraft emissions, possible pollution* SANTA MONICA AIRPORT While residents of Sunset Park and Mar Vista have complained for years about noise and pollution emitted from aircraft, the frequent users of the new Airport Park don’t seem too fazed about the potential health risks. “My first concern is what if the plane misses the runway,” said Colette Brown, who lives down the street from the park in Santa Monica. Located just to the south of the Santa Monica Airport, the new park, with a synthetic turf soccer field, off-leash dog park and children’s playground, celebrated its grand opening on April 29. The airport has been the target of criticism over the years by neighbors who are concerned by the potentially harmful emissions from the aircraft idling on the runway as well as the ruckus caused by planes taking off and landing throughout the day. With flights dating back to as early as 1917, the Santa Monica Airport is considered to be the oldest operating airport in Los Angeles County. Concerns have also been raised periodically about the safety of developing a park so close to the Santa Monica Airport. In October 2001, members of the Santa Monica Task Force on the Environment expressed concerns about constructing a park adjacent to the airport “because of elevated levels of air pollutants and potential soil and groundwater contamination near the site,” according to the minutes from the Oct. 15 meeting. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on Airport Park, which was certified by City Council on Oct. 14, 2003, includes a section that addresses these concerns. The report cites a study analyzing air quality at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, which found that concentrations of air pollution at areas adjacent to the airport were not significantly different than an area with a comparable level of vehicular traffic. In examining soot deposits at locations in the vicinity of O’Hare Airport, an environmental consultant found minimal differences in the chemical composition in soot deposits collected near and far from the airport. “Most of the soot was from regional background sources and motor vehicles,” the EIR states. The EIR concludes that there is little potential for air pollutants to have a significant impact on the park. “Pollutant emissions” generated from a general aviation airport such as Santa Monica Airport are usually due to small aircraft operations during queuing, the EIR states. Local air quality could be affected when there is a large number of aircraft queuing for a long period of time, but that is usually not the case at Santa Monica Airport. An EIR typically addresses impacts the site would have on surrounding areas, not vice versa, said Karen Ginsberg, the project manager with the city’s Community and Cultural Services Department. An analysis was done on pollutants because of concerns related to air quality. A resident of West Los Angeles for almost 15 years, Martin Rubin, director of Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution, points out that neither air sampling nor a health risk assessment was conducted as part of the EIR. Rubin and his wife, Joan, live just east of the airport. Residents have been advocating for a health risk assessment over the years and Rubin believes the Airport Park would have been the perfect opportunity for the city to conduct such a study. “I think they should’ve checked health risk on this,” said Rubin, who attended the park’s grand opening. Almost two weeks after the grand opening, things were quiet around Airport Park on Wednesday afternoon. The controversial dog park was without its canine customers, the picnic tables without diners and the field without athletes. In the playground, Brown was enjoying the relatively cool afternoon with her daughter and Caryn Burks, who stopped by with her daughter during a lunch break. The two women have enjoyed the park since its opening, visiting several times a week with their daughters and enjoying one of the newest city resources. Possible aircraft pollution doesn’t seem to cross their minds since Los Angeles at times seems like the pollution capitol of the world. It already has been confirmed as the most polluted city in the United States. There’s probably more pollution coming from Bundy Drive since there are more cars zooming up and down the heavily traveled corridor than aircraft taking off and landing from the runway, said Brown, who walked to the park with her daughter. The new park is a nice amenity, though Brown said she would’ve preferred to see a water area, more shade and more toys for the children. But the park is clean and policed, keeping park patrons feeling safe, she added. The kids actually love being close to the airport and line up whenever they see the plans taking off, said Burks, a Mar Vista resident. Pollution is just a way of life in Los Angeles. “There’s pollution everywhere,” she said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/051007-09_01.jpg) (Photo: Photo courtesy) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 10, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/051007.pdf?ref=smdp.com)