Maurice Rose Army Air Field

The primary reason for closure was the end of the Cold War and the subsequent drawdown of United States military forces stationed in Germany. The US Army no longer had an operational need for the airfield. Following the military's departure, the City of Frankfurt designated the area for renaturation and public recreational use as part of its 'GrünGürtel' (Green Belt) project, rather than continuing its function as a civilian airfield.

The site has been completely transformed into a public park and nature reserve known as 'Alter Flugplatz Bonames' (Old Bonames Airfield). It is a prominent and popular part of Frankfurt's 'GrünGürtel'. The former runway is still clearly visible and has been repurposed as a wide, paved path for walking, cycling, inline skating, and other recreational activities. The original control tower has been preserved and now houses the 'Tower Café', a well-known restaurant. The area also includes a nature education center ('Natur- und Lernort Alter Flugplatz'), playgrounds, and protected habitats for various flora and fauna, serving as a successful example of brownfield regeneration.

Originally constructed in the 1930s as a Luftwaffe airfield known as 'Flugplatz Bonames' or 'Flugplatz Nidda', it was captured by US forces in March 1945. It was subsequently renamed 'Maurice Rose Army Air Field' in honor of Major General Maurice Rose, a distinguished US Army commander killed in action in Germany near the end of World War II. Throughout the Cold War, it served as a key US Army aviation facility, primarily supporting the V Corps, which was headquartered in Frankfurt. The airfield was home to helicopter and light fixed-wing aircraft units (e.g., UH-1 Huey, AH-1 Cobra, O-1 Bird Dog) responsible for liaison, observation, command and control, and medical evacuation flights. It was a vital tactical airfield, distinct from the larger strategic air transport hub at Rhein-Main Air Base.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the site as an airport. Its current status as a protected nature reserve and a vital public recreational area is firmly established in the city's long-term urban planning. Any redevelopment for aviation purposes is considered impossible due to its environmental designation and importance as a public green space.