Airport Spotlight: Homeowners Reclaiming Crest Airpark

Kent, Washington, residents unite to preserve the place they love.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, April 20, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Norman Grier Field (S36) is a small airport backed by a passionate community. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

Residents of Flying Acres Airpark faced decades of uncertainty regarding their crucial airport access until their Homeowners Association successfully purchased the privately-owned Norman Grier Field (Crest Airpark) in July 2025.
The purchase, costing approximately $3.125 million, was realized through the collective effort of 93 out of 116 homeowners, who contributed funds to secure the 64-acre airport property.
Now community-owned and volunteer-managed, the airpark plans for an additional $3 million in repairs and improvements, aiming to ensure permanent airport access, enhance safety, and maintain its operational status indefinitely.

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Imagine buying a home because it offered access to an airport, only to later learn the property might change hands and the runway could be lost. That uncertainty lingered for decades at Flying Acres Airpark in Kent, Washington, adjacent to Norman Grier Field (S36), formerly known as Crest Airpark.

In July 2025, the Flying Acres Homeowners Association (FAHA) purchased the airport through New Crest Airpark LLC, an entity created specifically for the purchase and management of the 64-acre property on behalf of the airpark community. According to FAHA members, the airport sale and purchase was decades in the works.