Significant improvements are coming to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and the Youngstown Air Reserve Station. Some of these projects include adding a 1 mile walking trail, paving the runways, and relocating the main gate to the air reserve station.

The paving project costs over $22 million, and is necessary for the airport to continue meeting FAA standards.

"This is critical. I mean if we don't take care of our pavement here in Youngstown, our runway can be shortened, it could be reduced, and it could eliminate, could create a situation where it would jeopardize our airbase," said Anthony Trevena, executive director of the Western Reserve Port Authority.

The removed asphalt from this project will help the airport with its next project. In fact, the pavement and asphalt removed is going to be used when making the walking path called Air Heritage Travel. The path will be in the shape of a Lockheed C-130 airplane. The infield of that plane will have wildflowers.

The path will sit on a 22-acre plot down the street from the airport. When the project is finished, anyone can walk the trail.

Just down the street from the trail, workers are relocating the main gate to the air reserve station. The current gate does not meet the compliance of the air force. This project costs around $11 million.

Trevena says the airport already has the money for the projects. 

"Local taxpayers didn't go towards this at all. This was all from the generosity from our state delegation, from republicans, democrats, the Governor, and also same thing goes on the federal level. So that money is already received," said Trevena.

Although the other two projects have already started, the paving project won't begin until July or August.