PEORIA, Ill. – Community leaders helped celebrate the diamond anniversary of the organization that oversees Peoria International Airport.

A celebration was held Wednesday to celebrate 75 years of the creation of the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria.

The airport was previously operated by the Peoria Park District, and taken over in 1950 by MAAP.

Director of Airports Gene Olson says the mark is something “cool” to celebrate.

“It’s just kind of cool all the history that’s happened and the developments and the different airlines and aircrafts, and now we’re at record performing levels,” Olson said.

Olson says the opening and expansion of a new terminal was the biggest development in the Authority’s history. He says other notable achievements include bringing Mt. Hawley Airport to

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