page_title: Braintree Airport
section_title: Closure and aftermath
hierarchical_section_title: Braintree Airport / Closure and aftermath
caption_attribution_description: English: Topographic map of Braintree, Mass airport
context_page_description: Braintree Airport was an airport located in the town of Braintree, Massachusetts from 1948 to 1968. The airport was used for general aviation purposes until encroaching residential development forced its closure.
context_section_description: By 1964, association members had spent over $75,000 to lengthen the runway to 2,800 feet (850 m) and provide other upgrades to the site, including the construction of an operations building. Notwithstanding, the town started the first of what eventually became several attempts to permanently close the facility. Faced with an order to leave the site, pilots were forced to move their planes to neighboring airports on Boston's South Shore.  For several months, only civil defense officials were allowed to fly from Braintree.  In 1965, the town reversed course and once again allowed the association to use the airport while the water commission evaluated plans to enlarge Great Pond. Efforts to close the airport accelerated after a fatal 1968 accident that resulted in local residents petitioning the town government for the airport's closure. In 1968, the water commission terminated the airport's lease and directed the removal of all planes and property.
  As of 2013, the areas of Great Pond surrounding the former airport grounds are closed to the public.
caption: 1965 U.S. Geological Survey map of Braintree airport
exif: {}