Walkerfield Airport opened in 1930, formerly known as The Grand Junction Municipal Airport, is situated about six kilometers from the northeastern part of Colorado’s Mesa County, which is dubbed as the central business district of Grand Junction. In 1942, its name was changed to Walkerfield Airport in recognition to its bigges contributor, Walter Walker. A former publisher in the Daily Sentinel newspaper Walter helped to gather funds to offer sufficient monetary support to Walkerfield. The airport also served as a training ground for hundreds of Navy and Army cadets during the World War II. The cadets received basic flight training under the supervision of Eddie Drapela.
By 1996, McCormick, who joined the airport board at a tumultuous time, was honored with a bronze plaque for his long years of service as the chairman of the Walker Field Airport Authority Board. During an interview, McCormick proudly said that one of his most significant accomplishments as a Chairman was being able to effectively resolve the issues the airport was facing during its most difficult time. In 1995, the board members all agreed to name the conference room in Walker Field after McCormick in recognition of all the efforts he put in running the airport.
In 1997, the airport undergo a change of name once again. From Walker Field Airport its name was changed to Grand Junction Regional Airport in the 15th of May 2007.
In the aftermath of September 11 attack in 2001, tightened security was enforced in all commercial airports operating throughout the US. The US Congress created the TSA ‘Transportation Security Administration’ and the agency was tasked to replace all private security screeners with federal employees in all US commercial airports. The Transportation Security Administration met its deadline to federalize the passenger security screeners at Walker Field Airport as well as on 428 other commercial airports on November 19,2002. Meanwhile, transition to federal screeners at Walkerfield happened a month before passenger screeners were federalized by the TSA.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (Aeronautics Division) provided grants to Walker Field Airport and Glenwoods Spring Municipal Airport on the 16th of October 2003. Walker Field received $111,111 worth of grants which will be used for safety projects as well as the critical maintenance of the airport. Without the grants, such projects would not have been possible.
At present, a twenty million dollar project is underway which will improve Walker Field Airport, which is now known by name of Grand Junction Regional Aiport. Though the airport may have changed name, its fire and terminal building will still be called Walker Field. Meanwhile, the $19M roadway, which is still being built, is to be named the Walter Walker Boulevard.
Some fast food restaurants at Walker Field opened last year, are serving passengers passing through the airport’s security point. The new runway, planned for the northern side currently, is targeted to be finished by 2019. Meanwhile, the existing runway, after the completion of the new one, will be used as a taxiway. Various improvements and renovations are underway which all aims for the betterment of Walkerfield Airport.
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