Kenneth Hayward Airport

Economic reasons and urban encroachment. As the city of Bay City expanded westward, the land occupied by the airport became increasingly valuable for residential development. The airport was privately owned, and like many smaller general aviation fields in growing urban areas, it was eventually sold to developers to make way for a more profitable land use, in this case, a housing subdivision.

The site of the former airport has been completely and permanently redeveloped. It is now the location of the Westgate Subdivision, a dense residential neighborhood. The street grid of the subdivision (including roads like Westgate Drive, Lancaster Street, and Coventry Drive) covers the entirety of the former airfield. There are no remaining physical traces of the runway, hangars, or any other airport facilities.

Kenneth Hayward Airport was a privately owned, public-use general aviation airport that served the Bay City community for several decades, likely from the post-WWII era. It was named after Kenneth W. Hayward, a local aviator and prominent figure in the area's aviation community. The airport primarily handled general aviation traffic, including private aircraft for personal and business travel, flight training, and potentially some agricultural aviation services. It featured a single primary runway, which was initially turf and later described as having a 2,600-foot unpaved surface, along with several hangars and a small office. Its significance was as a local hub for aviation enthusiasts and a base for small aviation-related businesses, representing a typical mid-20th century American small-town airfield before it was overcome by suburban development.

Zero. The prospect of reopening Kenneth Hayward Airport is nonexistent. The land has been fully occupied by a residential housing development for over 30 years. Reacquiring and clearing the land would be logistically, financially, and politically impossible. The aviation needs of the Bay City area are served by the nearby James Clements Airport (3CM) and the larger MBS International Airport (MBS).