Pierce County will buy the Tacoma Narrows Airport near Gig Harbor for $5 million.

Under an agreement approved at a special County Council meeting Tuesday at the airport, the county will pay $3 million of the purchase price.

The Peninsula Metropolitan Parks District will pay the other $2 million and will get the adjacent Madrona Links Golf Course.

The City of Tacoma has been trying to sell the money-losing airport for two years. County officials say they can break even or better by consolidating operations with the county's other airport - Thun Field.

County officials see the Narrows airport as an economic development tool. They also want to keep it in public hands to control its development.

County Council Chairman Terry Lee, R-Gig Harbor, said the county will host community meetings to seek public input on an airport business plan.

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David Wickert, The News Tribune