Runway Green Secured Lease for Floyd Bennett Field Campus

The nonprofit signed a 60-year deal to develop an education center within the Gateway National Recreation Area.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Higher Education

Runway Green Secured Lease for Floyd Bennett Field Campus

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Runway Green has finalized a 60-year lease with the National Park Service to construct a major education campus at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. This $60 million initiative aims to serve 50,000 New York City public school students through hands-on learning and environmental programs.

Why it matters

The long-term lease provides the stability required to develop permanent infrastructure, including a high school and a campground. The project seeks to bridge the gap between students and career opportunities by connecting them with employers and higher education institutions.

The campus will span seven acres within the Gateway National Recreation Area and feature a three-acre urban farm. To date, organizers have secured $9.3 million in public investment from local and federal sources.

The players

Runway Green

This nonprofit organization focuses on developing educational infrastructure and programming for students.

Antonio Reynoso

As the Brooklyn Borough President, he has committed $1 million in public funding to support the education project.

Chuck Schumer

The U.S. Senator helped secure federal funding to support the development of the education campus.

Kirsten Gillibrand

The U.S. Senator played a key role in securing $2 million in federal funding for the Brooklyn project.

New York City Council

This municipal legislative body provided a $3.3 million investment to assist in the project's development.

The details

The site will integrate the area's existing historic and natural resources into its curriculum, which includes plans for a welcome center and a ropes course. Runway Green has already launched pilot programs with local schools to begin career exploration and environmental education efforts.

Summer 2026: Aviator Sports and Event Center transitioned to a new operator.
2027: The first phase of the education project is expected to break ground.

Culture Shift

This project signals a major transition in the reuse of historic federal lands for modern vocational and educational purposes. By integrating public school needs into the Gateway National Recreation Area management framework, the initiative repurposes land to address urban education gaps.

Public school students will soon have access to new educational resources, including a ropes course and an urban farm. Residents should anticipate future changes to the landscape of the airfield as the site transitions into a permanent educational hub.

The takeaway

This campus model offers a blueprint for how underutilized historic sites can be transformed into vital public resources. Students and families can look forward to a new environment that bridges the divide between classroom theory and real-world career application.