Efforts to save Meigs Field appeared all but dead Friday after a late-afternoon state Appellate Court decision gave Mayor Daley permission to clear the airport and ready it for a park.

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In the Meigs decision, the Appellate Court on Friday lifted an emergency temporary restraining order--entered exactly one week ago--that prevented the city from further demolition at Meigs.

The decision disappointed airport supporters, who have battled through state and federal court for a chance to argue that Daley acted illegally March 30 when he abruptly closed the airport and bulldozed the runways overnight.

"This whole thing is about what's good and bad government,'' said Steven Whitney, chairman of the Friends of Meigs Field.

"What this seems to say is that it's fine for the city fathers to go about destroying public assets in the dark of night. Everybody we've talked to thinks that's wrong. It's discouraging that the court thinks it's OK,'' he said.