In the fall of 1935, there were several articles regarding WPA projects to build an airport on “70 acres of land purchased for that purpose by the City Commission” Work progressed through 1935 and was concluded in 1936 with 2 runways that were in excess of 2000 feet each. In the late 1930s there was some activity at the airport, and airport area, including the training of pilots. Ferris Institute had a flying school and Howard Travis was providing flight instruction. Three early students from Big Rapids were Earl Duffie, Barry Mitchell, and Walter Bentley.