The Evolution Of Burke Lakefront Airport: A Historical Perspective

when was burke lakefront airport built

Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport, located on the shore of Lake Erie, is a city-owned airport in the northeast part of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was built to relieve Cleveland Hopkins International Airport of smaller aircraft traffic. The airport first opened in 1947, becoming the first downtown airport in the United States.

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The airport opened in 1947, becoming the US's first downtown airport

The Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport opened in 1947, becoming the first downtown airport in the United States. The airport is located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The idea for a lakefront airport was first proposed by William Rogers in 1936 during the Great Lakes Exposition, but World War II disrupted these plans.

The airport was built on land reclaimed from Lake Erie, with construction on a dike retaining wall beginning in the early 1940s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The airport was originally designed to serve as a supplemental airfield for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, featuring a 2,000-foot dirt temporary runway and a small operations facility and hangar. In 1946, Mayor Thomas Burke included the creation of landing places for land and amphibious planes as part of the city's "Official Lakefront Development Plan".

The airport's proximity to downtown Cleveland made it a convenient option for tourists and other travellers. In 1950, the airport received a federal grant from the Federal Airport Act, which allowed for the installation of a 5,200-foot hard-surface runway in 1957. The airport has continued to undergo improvements and renovations over the years, including the addition of a west concourse in 1968 and the rehabilitation of the larger runway in 1998.

Today, the Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport is a general aviation airport and an FAA-designated reliever for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. It has an average of 90,000 take-offs and landings annually and is the largest of the five FAA-designated reliever airports in the Cleveland area. The airport also serves as a hub for air ambulances and corporate aviation.

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It is named after former Cleveland mayor Thomas A. Burke

Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport is named after former Cleveland mayor Thomas A. Burke. The airport opened in 1947 as the United States' first downtown airport and the first municipally owned-and-operated airport.

The airport was built on a landfill site on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The idea for a lakefront airport was first proposed by William Rogers in 1936, but World War II disrupted planning. In 1946, Mayor Burke made the creation of "landing places for land and amphibious planes" part of the city's "Official Lakefront Development Plan".

The airport originally featured a 2,000-foot (or 3,600-foot) dirt runway and a small operations facility and hangar. The runway was extended and resurfaced in 1957 with the help of a federal grant from the Federal Airport Act.

Mayor Burke was instrumental in the development and improvement of the airport. In 1958, the city council voted to name the airport in his honour, and it was dedicated to him on 9 October 1960.

Since its opening, the airport has undergone various improvements and expansions. It has served as a hub for various airlines, air shows, and other events, becoming an important part of Cleveland's aviation history and infrastructure.

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It is located on the shore of Lake Erie, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport is located on the shore of Lake Erie, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The airport was built on a dumping ground for the city's refuse. The idea for a lakefront airport was first proposed by William Rogers during the Great Lakes Exposition in 1936. However, World War II disrupted the planning, and it wasn't until 1947 that the airport officially opened, becoming the first downtown airport in the United States.

The airport is named after former Cleveland mayor and U.S. senator Thomas A. Burke. It was designed to serve as a supplemental airfield for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, which is the primary airport in the region. The airport originally featured a 2,000-foot dirt runway, which was later replaced by a 5,200-foot hard-surface runway in 1957. The construction of the airport was based on a 1923 U.S. Army manual on how to build an airport, which included suggestions on the location, size, and shape of the airport, as well as its proximity to ground transportation and the city's business districts.

Over the years, the airport has undergone various improvements and expansions. In 1968, the terminal was expanded with a 400-foot west concourse, adding more modern ticket counters and gates. The airport has also served as the site of the annual Grand Prix of Cleveland, an IndyCar race that required the temporary shutdown of the airport. Additionally, the airport hosts the annual Cleveland National Air Show during Labor Day weekend, attracting thousands of visitors.

The airport covers an area of 450 acres and includes two asphalt-paved runways. It is classified as a general aviation airport and is known for its convenience and accessibility for travellers. In recent years, there has been a focus on redeveloping the airport to better serve the community and provide meaningful access to high-quality public space on the lakeshore.

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It is an FAA-designated reliever airport to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport is a city-owned airport on the shore of Lake Erie, in the northeast part of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It is named after former Cleveland mayor and U.S. senator Thomas A. Burke. The airport opened in 1947 as the United States' first downtown airport and the first municipally owned-and-operated airport. It was built on what was once a dumping ground for the city's refuse.

Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport is an FAA-designated reliever airport to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), which is Greater Cleveland's primary airport. It is classified as a general aviation airport and is one of three airports serving the Cleveland area. The airport's total operations have decreased over the past two decades, from 100,321 in 2000 to 40,185 in 2019. However, between 2018 and 2019, operations at Burke increased by 16.5%, from 34,497 operations in 2018. The airport serves as a hub for several aviation schools and businesses, including the International Women's Air and Space Museum, which moved to the airport in 1998.

The airport's proximity to downtown Cleveland has been a significant draw for tourists and travellers. It was designed to serve as a supplemental airfield for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, originally featuring a 2,000-foot dirt temporary runway and a small operations facility and hangar. Over time, the Army Corps of Engineers deposited 700,000 cubic yards of material around the runway to prepare for a permanent presence. A federal grant in 1950 from the Federal Airport Act allowed for the installation of a 5,200-foot hard-surface runway in 1957.

Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport has played host to several notable events, including the annual Cleveland National Air Show, which attracts 60,000 to 100,000 visitors each year. The airport was also the site of the annual Grand Prix of Cleveland, an IndyCar race that required the airport to briefly shut down, until 2007. In 2012, President Barack Obama held a rally on the tarmac in front of a crowd of over 12,000 people.

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The airport hosts the annual Cleveland National Air Show every Labor Day weekend

The Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport, located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, opened in 1947 as the United States' first downtown airport. The airport is named after former Cleveland mayor and U.S. senator Thomas A. Burke.

Every Labor Day weekend, the airport hosts the annual Cleveland National Air Show, which attracts 60,000 to 100,000 visitors. The air show first took place at the airport in 1964 and has been held annually each year since then. The airport celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1997 while hosting the Cleveland Air Show, with a Navy Blue Angel and Army Thunderbird dedicated at Aviation Heritage Plaza.

The Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport is a general aviation airport and is an FAA-designated reliever to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, which is the primary airport for Northeast Ohio. The airport covers an area of 450 acres and features two asphalt runways. It is owned by the city of Cleveland and operated by the city's Department of Port Control.

The airport has a rich history, with plans for an airport in Cleveland dating back to the 1920s. The airport was originally envisioned in 1927 as part of a plan for Cleveland's lakefront development and officially became part of the city's Official Lakefront Development Plan in 1946. Construction on the airport began in the early 1940s, and the airport opened in August 1947 with a temporary 2,000-foot dirt runway. Over the years, the airport has undergone various improvements and expansions, including the addition of a hard-surface runway in 1957.

Frequently asked questions

The airport opened in 1947 as the United States' first downtown airport.

The airport covers an area of 450 acres (180 ha).

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2019, the airport had 41,245 aircraft operations, an average of 113 per day.

It is classified as a general aviation airport and is an FAA-designated reliever to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).

It was the United States' first municipally-owned-and-operated airport and was named after former Cleveland mayor and U.S. senator Thomas A. Burke.

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