Rockaway Airport

The primary reason for the airport's closure was urban development. In the late 1950s, the City of New York, under the direction of Robert Moses, condemned the airport property as part of a large-scale urban renewal plan for the Rockaway Peninsula. The land was acquired to build the Edgemere Houses public housing project and other residential developments to accommodate the city's growing population. The increasing value of the land for housing far outweighed its value as a small general aviation airport.

The former airport site has been completely and densely redeveloped. There are no remaining traces of the runways, hangars, or any other airport infrastructure. The land is now occupied by the NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority) Edgemere Houses, the large 'Arverne by the Sea' residential community, public schools (including P.S. 105 The Bay School), and various commercial and residential streets. The area is a fully integrated part of the urban fabric of Queens.

Opened around 1946-1947 in the post-WWII aviation boom, Rockaway Airport (also known as Edgemere Airport or Peninsula Airport) was a bustling general aviation field. It featured several unpaved runways and a seaplane ramp providing access to Jamaica Bay. The airport was a hub for the local aviation community, hosting flight schools (like the Rockaway Flying School), aircraft maintenance services, banner towing operations for the nearby beaches, and charter flights. It was popular among private pilots for its convenient, albeit challenging, location near the Atlantic Ocean and the New York City metropolitan area. The airport played a significant role in the recreational and economic life of the Rockaway community during its years of operation.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Rockaway Airport. The site is now occupied by thousands of homes, schools, and essential infrastructure. The logistical and financial challenges of acquiring the land and demolishing the existing developments are insurmountable. Furthermore, the airspace is now in close proximity to and managed by the heavily trafficked John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), making it unsuitable for a small general aviation field.